Nakano / Troester - Jewels for the Mandolin - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Tesoro Harmonico - Trios & Duets for Flutes & Mandolins [COMPACT DISCS] date 07/09/2013

The Duo Zigiotti Merlante, (Sergio Zigiotti on mandolin and Fabiano Merlante on guitar), on this album are performing a series of nineteenth-century pieces of rare charm on various vintage instruments within a compendium of melodies inspired by amorous, operatic, exotic and clever themes. The three composers, Carlo Munier, Enrico Marucelli and Luigi Mozzani were leading figures of the Italian scene between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries both as virtuous and multi-instrumental mandolinists, teachers, directors or members of famous plectrum ensembles. Luigi Mozzani also founded a guitar school-workshop that, successful all over the world, was finally selected by the great Andrés Segovia that chose one of his instruments.

Giovanni Battista Gervasio was a significant personality in the musical scene of 'stile galante' of the second half of 18th century; composer, virtuoso and teacher, he studied and improved the four courses mandolin, which was first built in Naples in that period. Thanks to him this instrument became popular and technically refined as it is nowadays. The aim of this recording is to reproduce the tinkling sonorities of these compositions. In order to obtain thoroughly this particular natural sonority, we have decided to InchcaptureInch the natural reverberations of the environment without ignoring the sound of each single instrument, so that the phrasing is intelligible. We have played an original mandolin built in 1764 and an harpsichord copy of an Italian harpsichord of 18th century. We have chosen to play continuo only with harpsichord considering that these two instruments have a similar way to produce sound. This is the first complete recording of all the sonatas for mandolin by Giovanni Battista Gervasio and the first absolute world recording.