BROUWER BELLINATI 7 (B

Leo BROUWER The Book of Signs Paulo BELLINATI Concerto Caboclo Brasil Guitar Duo Delaware Symphony Orchestra David Amado WORLD PREMIERE RECORDINGS Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) as no surprise, given the well-documented nationalistic proven himself to be a true craftsman, combining his The Book of Signs feelings of these major composers. Unaligned with any absolute control of traditional forms and compositional musical movement, and yet an authority on most Brazilian techniques that range across virtually all periods of music Paulo Bellinati (b. 1950) rhythms, Bellinati creates here a concerto highlighted by history with the profound musical inheritance of his Afro- Concerto Caboclo inspired melodic ideas and clever orchestration, which Cuban heritage. In so doing, he has created a personal During the early part of the 20th century, the guitar duo Coming from a long and rich tradition of guitar com- allows for the notably transparent sound of two guitars. style that is recognisable from the opening notes of any of repertoire suffered from the same problem as that of the posers from Brazil, Paulo Bellinati is a true ambassador for The Toada (a song in moderate tempo written over a his compositions. Brouwer is a seasoned writer of guitar solo guitar: a pronounced lack of post-Romantic works the guitar in his country, and continues the legacy of João rhythm similar to baião), with its two cadenzas, was concertos, with more than twelve titles under his name. The written by non-guitar composers. The Presti-Lagoya duo – Pernambuco, Anibal Augusto Sardinha aka Garoto, originally conceived as the concerto’s second movement, Book of Signs is his tenth, but it is the first for two guitars much like Andrés Segovia who was so vital in establishing Dilermando Reis, and Baden Powell, to name a few. His but it turned out to be the opening. In both cadenzas, the and orchestra. Written in 2003, this ‘double concerto’ (as the guitar as a serious concert instrument, and whose work as a composer, guitarist, and researcher has been composer treats the two guitars as a single instrument, and he calls it) was commissioned by guitarists Costas Cotsiolis persuasiveness led to an increase of guitar music written crucial to the global promotion of the various Brazilian the dialogue between them sounds like an improvisation and John Williams for the Athens Festival. Brouwer’s own by the foremost composers of his time – was responsible rhythms for guitar. Bellinati has composed dozens of works on the theme and its harmony. words describe the work best: for a renewed interest in the guitar duo during the 1950s for solo guitar and guitar ensembles, and among his The second movement, Moda de Viola, is an adagio ‘… Its language uses the sounds for its rest-motion and 60s. Ida Presti and Alexandre Lagoya were, of course, greatest accomplishments are the revival and the pub- inspired by the Brazilian songs known as modas de viola. ambivalence. The first-time variations are variations not the first pair of guitarists to perform together in the 20th lication of guitar music by Garoto (an important Brazilian These are traditionally performed by a duo called dupla on Beethoven. The second is a paraphrase of an century, but their commitment to developing the guitar duo guitarist whose pre-bossa nova impact was neglected after caipira (‘countryside duo’), with the singers harmonising in almost banal theme of variations as well. The end’s as a serious ensemble took the form to new heights, both his premature death). Paulo Bellinati graduated from the parallel thirds or sixths and very often accompanying sonority is in the form of a round. This work is one of technically and artistically, and inspired composers such as conservatory of São Paulo, where he studied classical themselves, one playing the regular guitar and the other obvious musical virtuosity, something I usually Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Joaquín Rodrigo to write guitar with Isaias Sávio. He later continued his musical the viola caipira. This call-and-response structure also avoid.’ specifically for two guitars. studies in Switzerland at the Conservatory of Geneva. He appears frequently between the two singer/players in The repertoire of concertos for two guitars received new then taught at the conservatory of Lausanne and also musica caipira. In this movement, the composer success- The concerto’s first movement, The Signs of Memory, is life during this period, when duos such as Presti-Lagoya, studied with Abel Carlevaro and Oscar Cáceres. fully extends this arrangement to the orchestral writing, a set of 18 variations on the theme of Beethoven’s 32 Pomponio-Zarate, and the young Abreu Brothers perform- Bellinati’s Concerto Caboclo pays tribute to the country which is framed entirely by the countryside atmosphere Variations in C minor, WoO 80 for piano. The ‘memory’ of ed actively on an international scale and landed contracts music of São Paulo State, which is traditionally played on with its serenades and troubadours. Beethoven’s theme (and to a certain extent the variations with major recording labels. Having cultivated the demand the viola caipira, the Brazilian ten-string folk guitar. Caboclo Ponteado (a fast finger-picking folk style) features a on that theme) is present throughout the entire movement. for works performed by two guitars, these duos set the was commissioned by the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra guitar technique that Bellinati favours in many of his other In cases where there is an obvious melodic proximity to the stage for some of the finest works in the repertoire to be for the Brasil Guitar Duo, and was premiered in 2011. The pieces: the alternation between open and stopped strings original theme, the memory is especially vivid. At other composed during this period, beginning with those of concerto mixes two signature elements of Bellinati’s style: to create a sort of ostinato. The ostinato is the heart of this times the memory is more obscure, dissolved into Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Rodrigo. The Italo-Uruguayan contemporary techniques and luxurious harmonies on the movement, and its rhythmic drive serves as the perfect Brouwer’s rich harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary. Guido Santórsola, wrote what is possibly the first dode- one hand, along with the rhythms and a way of playing grand finale. The guitar part in this movement presents The simplicity of the second movement, Variaciones caphonic concerto for two guitars in the 20th century. particular to the rural areas of São Paulo State on the other. many left-hand particularities, requiring especially agile sobre un tema sentimental (‘Variations on a Sentimental Federico Moreno Torroba’s Puertas de Madrid and Tres In the context of this piece, the word caboclo (meaning a fingers to play melodies in octaves, and using a vocabulary Theme’), shows Brouwer’s majestic treatment of a song- Nocturnos, as well as the forgotten concerto for two guitars Brazilian person of mixed ancestry, either white and Indian of floreios (‘ornaments’) that are very typical in viola caipira like theme, very similar to the approach he has previously by Germaine Tailleferre, all have yet to become well known. or black and Indian) refers to the humble folk person of São playing. taken to composing cinematic soundtracks and his rework The works presented on this recording are a legacy of Paulo State, who sings and plays the música caipira The Cuban composer, conductor, guitarist, and of seven Beatles songs, titled From Yesterday to Penny this era of prosperity for the guitar duo, wherein the (‘country music’). Although markedly Brazilian in its educator Leo Brouwer, enjoys the reputation of being one Lane. Emblematic of his style, the composer quotes ensemble and its repertoire reached a new level of maturity. essence, the música caipira has often been underrated in of the 20th century’s most important Latin American rhythmic patterns and melodic fragments from his previous These concertos are written by two of our best living intellectual circles, and overshadowed by genres with composers. His compositions range from works for most compositions, in a very spontaneous way. composers for guitar, and are recorded here for the first greater international appeal such as samba, bossa nova, solo instruments, a variety of chamber music, orchestral The joyful third movement (with no title) is an Allegro in time. We can be sure that many more recordings of these and chôro. Major symphonic composers such as Villa- works, and music for dozens of movies. But it is on the rondo form. The dance feel of the entire movement is two pieces are yet to come, for they are both destined to Lobos, Camargo Guarnieri, and Francisco Mignone ex- guitar that Brouwer’s influence has proven to be most achieved by the use of the Cinquillo Africano (a rhythmic reside on the list of the great concertos for two guitars. plored the caipira universe in their works. That should come extraordinary. In his work as a composer, Brouwer has pattern of five notes syncopated) that is so common in the Caribbean, especially in the Danzón, Contradanza and guitar pieces, recognisable from the fast section of the third David Amado other Cuban dances of African origin. Most themes in this movement of his Decameron Negro. As is typical in the Music director and conductor David Amado, movement present the cinquillo or a slight variation of it, rondo form, some previously played themes return, but the leads the Delaware Symphony Orchestra providing the whole movement a sense of unity. The dance composer manages to modify these, rather than merely with musical excellence, connecting with feeling is interrupted by a quotation of the second repeat them. audiences through fine musicianship and movement’s lyrical theme in the new section.

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