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  Llobet: Sämtliche Gitarrenmusik

  This new recording presents the complete guitar works of Llobet, who himself was a virtuoso on his instrument, as shown in the complex and innovative writing. Barcelona-born Miguel Llobet once played for the Spanish royal family in the early 20th century. Credited with beginning the notion of a touring classical guitarist, Llobet travelled throughout Europe and beyond, briefly settling in both Paris and Buenos Aires. He later returned to Barcelona, unable to distance himself from his birthplace despite the grip of the civil war in which the city found itself.This collection brings together Llobet's complete works for guitar, beginning with Leonesa and his popular arrangements of 13 Catalan folk songs. These arrangements, each of a varying character, wring a different emotion from the guitar, from the sprightly L'Hereu Riera and lilting El Noi de la Mare to the flourishes of Canço de Lladre and the mournful El Testament d'Amelia. The Variations on a Theme of Sor, based on Fernando Sor's B minor study, contrast a haunting melody with complex articulation. Also featured on the disc are Llobet's 5 Preludes, the Argentinian Folk Songs, Etudes, the witty and bright Scherzo-Waltz, and the composer's debut composition Romance, among others.Italian guitarist Giulio Tampalini studied at the Luca Marenzio Conservatory in Brescia and the G.F. Ghedini Conservatory in Cuneo, and has attended masterclasses all over the world with performers such as Tilman Hoppstock, Eliot Fisk and Dusan Bogdanovic. He has won awards at many international competitions and has performed with orchestras across Europe, America and Asia, including the Andalusian Symphony Orchestra, the European Soloists of Luxembourg, and Pittsburgh's Point Chamber Orchestra.Other information:- New recording, recorded on 3--6 May 2012, Bartok Recording Studio, Bernareggio, Milan.- Tampalini plays on a Philip Woodfield 2010 guitar (strings: Aquila Perla).- The works of Spanish composer Miguel Llobet (1878-1838) have to be seen in the light of his own tragic life, which after glorious periods in the highest artistic circles of Paris at the beginning of the 20th century, ended in depression and gloom in Barcelona in the dismal circumstances caused by the Spanish Civil War. His music eschews the artificial quasi-Spanish-folklore elements, but is firmly rooted in the Spanish culture, albeit of a deeper and darker character, and injected with 20th century modernist elements.- Excellent performances by Giulio Tampalini, one of Italy's leading guitarists.- Contains superb liner notes by Angelo Gilardino and a biography of the artist.

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  Millennium: The New Zealand Works

  THE WORKS Flourish for an Occasion: John Ritchie This ceremonial fanfare was commissioned for the opening of the Christchurch Town Hall in 1972. Rhapsody in Brass: Dean Goffin Dean Goffin's "Rhapsody in Brass" is the most popular work for brass band by a New Zealand composer. It was written in the Syrian Desert in 1942 and first performed in Cairo later that year. It has the distinction of having been selected as a "test piece" for the 1949 British Open and for the 1952 National Contest in New Zealand. Colne: arranged by Thomas Rive Like Dean Goffin, Thomas Rive has been an influential figure in the musical life of the Salvation Army. "Colne", a hymn tune, was originally written for the Santa Ana Corps in California. The Enchanted Dance Hall: Kenneth Young This work, commissioned by the Evening Post Onslow Band, evokes images of times past and the faded glories of a dance hall through a charming series of dances, some slow and melancholic, others boisterous and irreverent. Threnody: John Ritchie "Threnody" is a lament written in memory of Mervyn Waters, a revered past Music Director of Woolston Brass. This piece features the cornet playing of Kevin Hickman. Lambton Quay: Larry Pruden Lambton Quay is one of the main streets in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. This concert march was originally written for brass band in 1957 but was never performed. Two years later, composer Larry Pruden expanded the work for symphony orchestra. It won the APRA/NZBC competition in 1975. Down the Brunner Mine: Anthony Ritchie This set of ten variations is based on a folk song recalling one of New Zealand's worst mining disasters. In 1848 Sixty-seven men were killed by exploding gas in the Brunner Mine which is situated near Greymouth, on the West Coast of South Island. Haast Highway: Larry Pruden"Haast Highway" celebrates the forging of a road through the Southern Alps traversing some of New Zealand's most rugged terrain. In 1975 this work won first prize in a composition competition organised by the Brass Bands Association of New Zealand (BANZ). Millennia: John Rimmer Composed for the Fredonia State University Brass Ensemble in 1990, this work was inspired by popular scientific literature. A statement from "A Brief History of Time" by the brilliant theoretical physicist and mathematician, Stephen Hawking, made an impact on John Rimmer - "...in less than half a century man's view of the universe, formed over millennia has been transformed". This brass band arrangement of "Millennia" closely follows the original. It is a typical contemporary work for the modern brass band. Invercargill March: Alex Lithgow Dedicated to New Zealand's southernmost city, this sprightly march is instantly recognised world-wide and is possibly the most internationally performed New Zealand composition ever! It's popularity is widespread throughout the world's banding fraternity and it has become the unofficial anthem of a city which remains a stronghold of New Zealand banding. THE COMPOSERS Alexander Lithgow (1870-1929) Born in Glasgow, Lithgow was brought to Invercargill as a boy by his migrant family. He was taught to play the cornet there by W.V. Siddall, who like Lithgow, would become a conductor of the Woolston Band. Lithgow himself conducted Woolston in 1901. The present conductor, David Gallaher, continues the link with Invercargill having spent 14 years in that city as a player with "The Invercargill Band". Lithgow wrote "Invercargill March" in 1908, and dedicated it to the citizens of Invercargill as a memento of the many pleasant years he spent there as a boy. Sir Dean Goffin (1916-1984) Sir Dean Goffin was born in Wellington and educated at both Christchurch Technical College and Napier Boys High School. From a Salvation Army family, Sir Dean became bandmaster of the Wellington South Band in 1936. After enlisting in the New Zealand Army at the outbreak of World War II, Sir Dean was appointed bandmaster of the 4th Brigade Band. The band was sent to Crete in 1941 and fought there as an infantry platoon under Lt. Goffin during that ill-fated campaign. Lt. Goffin was later complimented by Sir Howard Kippenberger, one of New Zealand's greatest soldiers, for his performance as a platoon commander. After returning to civilian life and completing a music degree at Otago University, Sir Dean began a career of full-time service in the Salvation Army. For 10 years he was responsible for the Salvation Army's music in Great Britain. He returned to New Zealand in 1971 and held a variety of posts before being elevated to that of "Commissioner for New Zealand and Fiji". He received a Knighthood in 1983. Sir Dean's brother Norman, a distinguished musician in his own right, was a life member of the Woolston Band. Larry Pruden (1925-1982) Like many New Zealand musicians and composers the "Cambridge Summer Schools of Music" had a major influence on Larry Pruden. Further study at the Guildhall School of Music in London with Alfred Neiman and later Benjamin Frankel brought him into contact with Edwin Carr, David Farquhar and Robert Burch. On his return to New Zealand, Pruden worked in the programme section of Radio New Zealand and then for "The Listener" Magazine. In 1975 he was awarded the Mozart Fellowship at Otago University. John Rimmer (1939-) Grandson of the famed British March King William Rimmer, it was natural enough that John Rimmer begin his musical education in a brass band at school. Rimmer is another for whom the Cambridge Summer Music Schools were of significance in composition along with Ronald Tremaine at Auckland University and Peter Maxwell Davies. He won a composition prize in 1984 from the International Horn Society. Rimmer studied horn himself in Toronto with Eugene Rittich. He is now based at Auckland University. Kenneth Young Kenneth Young was born in Invercargill but grew up in Christchurch. He began his music career as a cornettist in the Woolston Junior Band under the tutorship of Mervyn Waters, though initial encouragement in composition came from Frank Dennis, a music teacher at Christchurch's Cashmere High School. After studying at Auckland University he took up his current position as tuba player with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Further study followed in the United States and Europe. During this time he developed a reputation as a composer and he has maintained a steady output of works since, culminating in a first symphony in 1988. Kenneth Young has been a member of the music faculty at Victoria University since 1988. He was appointed Conductor-in-Residence of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra early in 1993. John Ritchie (1921-) John Ritchie began his music career as a clarinettist at the King Edward Technical College in Dunedin, playing under Vernon Griffiths. He was later to succeed Griffiths as Professor of Music at Canterbury University. After Post-graduate study at Harvard University under Walter Piston he went on to gain extensive musical experience with orchestras, brass bands and choirs while overseas. He formed a string orchestra in 1958 which was the nucleus of the now semi-professional Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. John Ritchie has alway been closely involved in music education as well as composing. He composed the ceremonial fanfares for the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games. In 1976 he was elected Secretary General of the International Society of Music Education. A patron of many of the city's musical organisations, he has become an integral part of Christchurch's musical life. John Ritchie is fondly regarded as the current Patron of Woolston Brass. Anthony Ritchie (1960-) The son of composer John Ritchie, Anthony was educated at St. Bede's College, Christchurch and later at Canterbury University. Early encouragement was provided by his father and Dorothy Buchanan. Post-graduate study in Hungary was followed by a year as a composer in schools in Christchurch and then a year as resident Mozart Fellow at Otago University. Anthony Ritchie i

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  Long Time Leaving

  For most musicians, the break-up album is the quintessential songwriter cliché - bringing with it the burden to eek out some kind of originality from an oversubscribed muse. But for award-winning indie artist Christa Couture -- whose first three albums reflected on her teenage battle with cancer, the loss of her left leg to the disease, and the deaths of both of her young children under separate circumstances -- the opportunity to write songs about such ordinary heartache seemed like a welcome reprieve. On the Steve Dawson-produced Long Time Leaving, Christa offers a truly unique take on the topic thanks in part to a long and complex relationship with grief that's given her rare insight into its nuances. It's a mostly upbeat album filled with sweet soaring hooks, whimsical melodies, clever word-play and Christa's trademark sweet, quirky vocals. It is at times an album to sing along to, even an album to do housework too (!!) - something Christa was striving for - and an album about continuing to move forward in the aftermath of tragedy. The collection seems effortlessly cohesive as Christa's expansive vocals and singular writing style provide the foundation for an array of arrangements - ranging from the sprightly, minimalist "Aux Oiseaux" to the twangy "Alone in This." The latter is Christa's "Nashville breakup song," in honor of the city where the album was recorded. Juno-winner Dawson not only produced the album but also contributes as a musician, adding pedal steel Weissenborn, ukulele and electric guitar. The top-notch band is rounded out by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings' rhythm section: John Dymond (k.d. lang, Bruce Cockburn) on bass and Gary Craig (Jann Arden, Anne Murray) on drums. Famed Nashville-based fiddler Fats Kaplin also makes an appearance on the coquettish "Lovely Like You."

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