Album

The combination of guitar and piano was common in the early nineteenth century, but it fell out of favor because a modern piano overwhelms a guitar. While some music suggests historically authentic performance, the pieces on this disc demand it: the use of a fortepiano instead of a modern grand reveals an intriguing balance between the instruments. The composers represented here were all Neapolitans, Naples being a city identified with the guitar and partially able to resist the overall dominance of opera in Italian music. With the exception of the slightly more ambitious Grand Duo, Op. 86, of Ferdinando Carulli and the Two Rondos, Op. 68, of Mauro Giuliani, all the pieces fall into a similar pattern: a slow, serenade-like movement followed by a quicker one allowing the guitarist to show off some clean, quick figuration. Everything is pleasant enough, but the two Giuliani rondos stand out from the crowd with tight, muscular construction and very imaginative use of the subtle echo effects possible with this instrumental combination. These are unusual works that guitar recitalists should keep in mind, at least those with access to a fortepiano. (Or maybe they could be tried with a modern grand and an electric guitar.) The performances here are a bit wonkish, from the dual bowties worn by the two players to the footnoted booklet to the restrained stylings on the disc, but nothing interferes with the charm of the music except for the vague, indistinct sound. The guitar, even with a piano, needs an intimate environment. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile revival of music many music lovers of Beethoven's time would have known.

© James Manheim, All Music Guide

CD 1
Ferdinando Carulli Composer Grand Duo for guitar & piano in E-, Op.86 Work 15:31 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
1	1.Allegro	6:31			$0.99
2	2.Largo	4:45			$0.99
3	3.Allegro	4:15			$0.99
Tommaso Giordani Composer Sonata for guitar & continuo in C- Work 5:36 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
4	1.Larghetto	3:07			$0.99
5	2.Allegro	2:29			$0.99
Tommaso Giordani Composer Sonata for guitar & continuo in C Work 8:15 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
6	1.Larghetto	5:30			$0.99
7	2.Allegro	2:45			$0.99
Mauro Giuliani Composer Rondos (2), for guitar & keyboard, Op.68 Work 9:13 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
8	1.Rondo in B-	5:08			$0.99
9	2.Rondo in A	4:05			$0.99
Tommaso Giordani Composer Sonata for guitar & continuo in C- Work 5:39 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
10	1.Largo	3:58			$0.99
11	2.Allegro (alla caccia)	1:41			$0.99
Tommaso Giordani Composer Sonata for guitar & continuo in A- Work 6:33 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
12	1.Andantino	2:45			$0.99
13	2.Tempo di Menuetto	3:48			$0.99
Ferdinando Carulli Composer Duo for Guitar and Piano in D, Op.134 Work 11:09 Kristian Nyquist Piano (Forte), Maximilian Mangold Guitar, Michael Walker Piano (Forte)
14	1.Larghetto	4:14			$0.99
15	2.Rondo	6:55			$0.99