Various Artists - Ars Longa - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Ars longa see theorbo specialist Elizabeth Kenny perform a typically inventive recital of diverse repertoire spanning five centuries. The theorbo's eccentric appearance and tuning belies it's expressive and delicate qualities; it's versatility extends to beautiful melodies, experimental harmonies and a wonderfully resonant bass. The recital takes the listener from the early avant-garde repertoire for the instrument of Kapsperger and Piccinini to the new and imaginative sounds explored by today's composers. Taken from his 2011 work Since it was the day of preparation... James MacMillan's motet is a haunting and melancholy piece in which the theorbo acts as an emblem of human fragility and sadness. Benjamin Oliver wrote Extending from the inside specifically for Kenny, who relishes the unique challenge of combining elements of funk guitar with the Baroque tradition of ground bass. Kenny also inspired Nico Muhly's Berceuse, a piece which exploits the unconventional tuning system and expressive possibilities of the theorbo to powerful effect. Album Tracks 1. Allessando Piccinini (1566 - C. 1638) 2. Toccata III 3. Toccata X 4. Ciaconna 5. Romanesca Con Partite Variate 6. Sir James MacMillan (B. 1959) 7. Motet I3.13 8. Alessandro Piccinini 9. Corrente 10. Toccata XII 11. Romanesca Folia Con Variate 12. Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger (C.1580 - 1651) 13. Canario - Capona 14. Toccata Prima 15. Passacaglia 16. Benjamin Oliver (B.1981) 17. Extending from the Inside 18. Robert de Visée (C. 1655 - 1732/3) 19. Suite in C minor 20. Prélude en C Sol Ut Mineur 21. La Plainte, Ou Tombeau de Mesdemoiselles de Visée, Allemande de Mr. Leur Père 22. Courante 23. Sarabande 24. Gigue 25. - 26. Prélude en G Re Sol Majeur 27. LS Sylvains de Mr. Couperin 28. Nico Muhly (B. 1981) 29. Berceuse with Seven Variations 30. Cycle 31. Firs