„La Vida Breve“ – Benefizkonzert zugunsten von SeaWatch e.V.

„La Vida Breve, das kurze Leben“, unter diesem Titel und mit Werken von Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Nin, Astor Piazzolla und Radamés Gnattali lädt das Elliot Duo in der Besetzung Mareike Schünemann (Violoncello) und Russell Poyner (Gitarre) ein zu einer musikalischen Reise über das Mittelmeer bis hin nach Südamerika.

Das Benefizkonzert zugunsten von SeaWatch e.V. findet am Samstag, dem 26. August 2017, in der Galerie Handwerk statt und beginnt um 18.00 Uhr. Der Eintritt ist frei, um Spenden wird gebeten.

Weitere Infos: ralf@circus-maximus.org oder info@russellpoyner.com

Mit freundlicher Unterstützung durch Circus Maximus, Handwerkskammer Koblenz, Jobelius Spirituosen, Kulturverlag Günther Schmitz & Koblenz International Guitar Festival & Academy.

New videos from the Elliot Duo

Here are two new videos from the Elliot Duo, recorded live in concert at the beginning of July. Two movements from the  Spanish Suite – „Seguida Espanola“ – by the composer Joaquin Nin. Hope you enjoy them.

Seguida Espanola IV. Andaluza by Joaquin Nin (1879-1949)

It uses a traditional Andalusian folk song and dance – „El Vito“ – the origins of which can be traced back to the 16th century.

The text goes a little bit like this:

Una vieja vale un real / An old woman is worth a real
Y una muchacha dos cuartos, / and a young girl two cuartos,
Y yo, como soy tan pobre / but as I am so poor
Me voy a lo más barato. / I go for the cheapest.

Con el vito, vito, vito, / On with the dancing,
Con el vito, vito, va, / on with the dancing, ole!
No me haga ‚usté cosquillas, / Stop your teasing, sir,
Que me pongo ‚colorá! / else I’ll blush!

Seguida Espanola II. Murciana by Joaquin Nin (1879-1949)

The Murciana is a spirited song and dance, named (surprisingly enough) after the city of Murcia. The melody is based on the traditional song – „El Paño Murciano“.

The text goes something like this:

Diga usted, señor platero, / Tell me, Mister Silversmith
Cuánta plata es menester / how much silver’s needed
Para engarzar un besito / to set a little kiss
De boca de una mujer. / from a woman’s lips?

Señor platero, he pensado / Mister Silversmith, thinking
Que usted sabe engarzar; / that you could set jewels,
Por eso le vengo a dar / I’ve come to give you
Una obrita de cuidado / a little task that needs some care.

A mí un besito me ha dado / A most alluring little kiss
Mi novia con gran salero. / my sweetheart gave me,
Engarzarlo en plata quiero, / I’d like to set it in silver,
Por que soy su fiel amante. / since I’m her faithful lover.

¿Qué plata será bastante? / How much silver would it take?
Diga usted, señor platero. / Pray tell me, Mister Silversmith.

Elliot Duo in Denmark, Hallig Langeneß and Kassel

I’m very happy to announce that the Elliot Duo will be making their way northwards in August to perform in Denmark, with a concert on the way at Hallig Langeneß and a private-concert on the return journey in Kassel.

So if you happen to be in Hallig Langeneß or Nørre Nebel, Dänemark, do pop by, have a listen, and say hello.

12. August 2017: Konzert in Hallig Langeneß
Halligkirche auf Langeneß, Kirchwarft, 25863 Langeneß
20:00 Uhr

15. August 2017: Konzert in Dänemark
Lønne Kirke, Houstrupvej 151, 6830 Nørre Nebel, Dänemark
20:00 Uhr

Concert @ Koblenz International Guitar Festival 2017

I’m very excited to be playing at this years Koblenz International Guitar Festival. I’ll be performing the Quintet for Guitar and String Quartet Op. 143 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco with the Koblenz International Guitar Festival String Quartet. It’s also a pleasure to be sharing the stage with the wonderful Sabrina Vlaskalic and Tristan Angenendt.

Saturday 3 June, 03.30 pm at the Rhein-Mosel-Halle, Rheinsaal.

You can get tickets here – http://www.koblenzguitarfestival.de/de/ 

Next up: Dawidek-Poyner Duo 05. May 2017

My next concert will be on the 5 May at the Jakobuskappelle, Koblenz, as part of the 14. Koblenzer Nacht der offenen Kirchen. Together with the oboist Monika Dawidek, we shall hopefully be trying out some new repertoire from Jacques Ibert, Béla Bartók, Barna Kováts, along with a few old favourites from Ástor Piazzolla (listen).  The concert starts at 19.30 and the entrance is free. Hope to see you there.

05/05/17 – 19.30
Jakobuskappelle
Am alten Hospital/Ecke Kastorhof
56068 Koblenz

Concert & Masterclass @ Warwick School

Last month I had the great pleasure to give a concert and masterclass at Warwick School. It all took place in the new Warwick Hall, which was a great venue to perform in. It was a pleasure to listen to some fantastic playing from some very talented guitar students, it’s good to see such a healthy and active guitar department. A big thank you to my good friend David Storer, and all those at the school who helped with the organisation.

 

New videos from the Elliot Duo

To start off the new year, here are a few live video recordings by the Elliot Duo. We chose to record a couple of pieces from our current programme, so here is the first movement from the „Sonata for Cello & Guitar“ by the Brazilian composer Radames Gnattali, two movements from the Spanish Suite – „Seguida Espanola“ – by the Cuban composer Joaquin Nin, and the famous „Air“ from the Orchestersuite BWV 1068 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Hope you enjoy them.

Sonata For Cello & Guitar I. Allegretto Comodo by Radames Gnattali (1906-1988)

Seguida Espanola I. Vieja Castilla by Joaquin Nin (1879-1949)

Seguida Espanola III. Asturiana by Joaquin Nin (1879-1949)

Orchestersuite BWV 1068 II. Air by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Studio Magazin

Finally got my copy of the latest Studio Magazin. War ein sehr interessantes Projekt mit der Accelerando Musikproduction, Tonmeister Dirk Pachelke und Ole Muth zusammen mit Uli Apel, und Johannes Dicke. Im Rahmen „the battle of Analog vs Digital“ wurden verschiedene Mikrofone und Wandler getestet. Ein toller Artikel mit eindrucksvollen Bildern wurde von Harald Wittig geschrieben. Ich fand das „One Take-Meister“ Zitat besonders erfreulich – ich hatte auch keine andere Wahl. 

Die Audiofiles gibt’s hier unter – http://accelerando.audio/de/studio-magazin

Home recording – Homenaje pour „Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy“ by Manuel de Falla.

After having not played this piece for quite a while, I’ve had to play it rather a lot over the last few weeks. It’s a piece I’ve played over many years, in exams, masterclasses, competitions, concerts, or just for the hell of it, and for me, it is still one of the finest pieces in our repertoire. If I’m totally honest, I just love playing it. Let’s not forget, that this was the piece that finally inspired Benjamin Britten to write his monumental „Nocturnal“ for solo guitar (if I’m not mistaken). Anyway, a little home recording – just for fun – of Homenaje pour „Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy“ by Manuel de Falla.

P.S. Please excuse the sound quality, it’s just a video camera, after all. I’m hoping there will be a professional sound recording (courtesy of sound Maestro Ole Muth) of this piece coming sometime in the not too distant future.

Rückblick: Elliot Duo @ Horizonte Festival 2016

Nach ein paar kleinen „Warm-Up“ Konzerten in Weißenthurm, Koblenz und Bad Ems, ist unser Auftritt beim Weltmusik Festival Horizonte sehr gut über die Bühne gegangen. Wir haben Barock, spanische und südamerikanische Music von Vivaldi, Bach, de Falla, Nin, Piazzolla, Gnattali, Villa-Lobos und Gismonti gespielt. Perfektes Wetter, volles Haus, tolle Atmosphäre, es war einfach ein Super Abend! Dazu auch eine schöne Kritik in der Rhein-Zeitung.

„Da tut den Ohren und dem Bauch der Besuch in der Festungskirche sehr gut. Der klassische Vortrag des Elliot Duos mit Violoncellistin Mareike Schünemann und Gitarrist Russell Poyner lässt tief durchatmen, obwohl das Barocke sowie die spanischen und südamerikanischen Rhythmen auch zu Wallungen führen.“ Rhein-Zeitung.

Fotos: Wovo (Wolfgang Vogt).

Fotos: Kai Müller.