Track 6 - 'Arrival' - Pierre Petit

Track 6 on 'Arrival' is 'Tarantelle' by Pierre Petit.
Every time I hear this piece I can't help laughing, but you will have to read on, to the end, to find out why.

'Tarantelle' along with 'Toccatta' are, in Robin's opinion, two of the greatest duo pieces written, and are certainly amongst the most difficult to play.

Pierre Petit studied at the Paris Conservatoire, and in the 1950's was made director of light music for the French radio and T.V. company ORTF. He was also a music critic for 'Parisien Libere' and 'Le Figaro'.
His compositions include the 'Suite for Four Cellos' (1945), 'Zadig' (a ballet, 1948), 'Concerto for Piano and Orchestra' (1956), and a 'Concerto for two Guitars and Orchestra' (1965), which was composed for the famous husband and wife duo, Ida Presti and Alexandre Lagoya.
In 1946 Petit won the much coveted composers' competition, the 'Prix de Rome'.

The 'Tarantelle' is a piece of music best avoided if you suffer from arachnophobia.
It has been suggested that the music depicts the frenzied dance of an unfortunate individual after they have been bitten by a deadly tarantula...
It is however also a joyful and ebullient piece of music, which in the first slow section quotes, 'Clair de Lune' by Claude Debussy.
As the piece progresses, you can certainly imagine a gyrating person as they suffer the consequences of the tarantula's venom.

What you can't hear, unless you purchase the track of course, is the end of the 'Tarantelle'.
This is where my amusement arises.

The Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo have frequently performed the 'Tarantelle', and usually, it is programmed at the end of the first half, as it has such a grand finale.
Naturally one wants to leave their audience keen to hear more.

The Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo are certainly not known for ever playing safe in live concerts.
Instead they constantly push themselves, and each other, to perform the most exciting version they can, whilst obviously maintaining accuracy.
A difficult balance to achieve.
Fuelled by concert adrenaline, it makes for a heady mix.
The 'Tarantelle' is therefore the perfect piece to stimulate the duo's virtuosity.

As the piece progresses it becomes more and more exciting, and on one occasion, Robin got rather over enthusiastic.
He knew the performance was going well and the audience were already stunned.

However, on the finale of the piece Robin executes a rapid drum roll on the side of his guitar, using both hands.
Robin was pleased with the fantastic percussive effect until he glanced down at his beautiful Rubio guitar and spotted a massive split in the Brazilian rosewood along the guitar's entire length.
During the interval he was able to inspect the damage, but there wasn't really a lot that could be done.
The entire second half of the concert was performed with a little more caution.
The Rubio was later repaired and restored to it's former glory.

So whilst Robin has been called, "the Jimi Hendrix of the classical guitar," I think we should add Pete Townshend to the list....
Go and have a listen, from the extract that you hear, it starts to become apparent, just how frenzied 'Tarantelle' becomes.

Who Are You?

As requested, I did tape, 'The Seven Ages of Rock', on BBC2 last night, and when Robin got home, we settled down to watch.
It was great, full of fantastic vintage Hendrix footage, with comments from various musicians, journalists, biographers and the late Chas Chandler, Jimi's manager and former member of the Animals.
There were also some great clips of Cream, the Who, the Stones, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and many more.

By the time we had finished watching it was gone 1 am, so, Robin was banned from getting out his Stratocaster and blasting out 'Purple Haze', for fear of waking children and neighbours.
However, his sub-conscious must have been dwelling on all this as he slept, because this is a poem he wrote on waking this morning:

WHO ARE YOU?*

Messrs. Entwistle, Daltrey, Townsend and Moon,

Turn down a side street - the time is mid-June,

The 16 year old with huge head of hair,

Is calming himself with a pint of foam beer,

His heroes have finally come into town,

In a Ford Transit van of mighty renown,

In less than an hour they will be live on the stage,

At the end of their set they give vent to their rage,

Drum kits will fly, guitars they will splinter,

Is this in fact an artistic winter?

Not in the least - these guys are on top,

They're zeitgeist, their muse is unlikely to stop,

There's no substitute for my generation,

No wonder we hold them in great veneration.

ROBIN HILL May 2007

* When Robin was 16 the Who performed at what was then the Casino Club (it's currently a Quick Save supermarket....) on Crompton Way in Bolton. He still occasionally drives past the side street they would have taken to get to the stage door, and always looks, and remembers, their concert.

Mutual Appreciation - Jimi Hendix and Force 10

"There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." Oscar Wilde

There's some mutual appreciation going on between me, here, and 'Guitarist Widow', over the the US.
Read 'Traits of a Guitar Widow' to see what I mean.

I must say, I was very touched, and also delighted, to find that there is someone else in the world, that truly understands what it takes to be 'behind the scenes', of a musician.
Some of the observations made are so accurate, it's almost as if they have been following me around for the last 15 years!
Yes, you do have to recognise the love and passion that your 'man' has for his music.
Yes, the guitar is another member of the family, and probably the most demanding one.
Yes, you do have to give over your home to guitars, music and associated paraphernalia. (Do you remember an entry I made about finding music stored in a disused fridge...)
Yes, you do travel with them as much as you can.
For many years I got to see some fantastic countries and places all over the world. It isn't as easy these days with young children, but, I'm always there on the end of a 'phone, or computer in the really far flung places.
And, yes, you do wonder what goes on when you're not able to be there. However, I got over that a long time ago. Luckily, Robin does appreciate that the true 'guitar widow' is an extremely rare breed.

All that said, it is a very nice feeling to know that somewhere out there, are others that understand the sacrifices that are made, to enable this exciting, fascinating, unusual, musical journey that we are taking.

Whilst on the subject of the back up I provide for Robin, I'm under strict instructions to tape a programme for him this evening.
Neil McCormick explains in this article, 'Turn on, tune in - but who's dropped out?

So, I'd better prepare for a late night, as once Robin has returned, and we have watched this programme, I feel sure that he will be getting out his Fender Stratocaster, and playing along with Jimi Hendrix.
To hear some examples of Robin playing electric guitar you can revisit this post, 'Force Ten to be Reckoned With...'.
Enjoy.