Description
A Lifetime in Strings: Julian Bream's Ultimate Collection of Spanish & Baroque Masterpieces 2-CD
UPC: 743216346523
MPN: 74321 63465 2
Brand Name: RCA Victor
Overview: The Legacy of Julian Bream in a 2-CD Collection
Experience the unparalleled artistry of Julian Bream, one of the 20th century's most distinguished classical guitarists and lutenists, with this definitive 2-CD collection. The Ultimate Guitar Collection spans Bream's half-century career, featuring iconic concertos and solo works that helped to elevate the classical guitar's standing. This compilation is an essential listen for enthusiasts of classical Spanish guitar music and Baroque lute performance.
The set is anchored by two monumental works: Joaquín Rodrigo's beloved "Concierto de Aranjuez" for guitar and orchestra, and Antonio Vivaldi's sublime Concerto in D for Lute and Strings. The collection is rounded out with virtuosic solo pieces from the great Spanish masters—Albéniz, Granados, and Tárrega—whose works Julian Bream masterfully transcribed and performed. It’s an invaluable introduction to the repertoire Bream pioneered and a treasure for long-time admirers seeking a comprehensive survey of his genius.
Product Features
- Format: 2 x Audio CD, Compilation
- Running Time: Approximately 110 minutes (Total)
- Genre: Classical, Spanish Classical, Baroque
- Style: Concerto, Solo Instrumental, Lute Music
- Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar (Julian Bream), Lute (Julian Bream), Orchestra (The Monteverdi Orchestra)
- Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner (on Concerto tracks)
Interesting Facts: The Self-Taught Genius and the Lute Revival
Julian Alexander Bream CBE (1933–2020) was a pivotal figure who broadened the scope and public perception of the classical guitar. Though he took some "sessions" with Andrés Segovia, Bream was largely self-taught on both the guitar and the lute, developing a unique, highly expressive, and technically brilliant style.
- Pioneer of the Lute: Bream was instrumental in the revival of interest in Renaissance lute music. He co-founded the Julian Bream Consort in 1960, a period-instrument ensemble, which brought the sounds of the Elizabethan era to a wide modern audience. This collection features his authentic lute performance on the Vivaldi Concerto.
- The Concierto de Aranjuez: Bream was only seventeen when the BBC first asked him to play Rodrigo’s masterpiece, a work he had never heard. He went on to record the Concierto de Aranjuez more times than any other piece in his career, making his interpretations definitive for many listeners worldwide. The recording in this collection, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner, captures one of his most celebrated performances.
- Expanding the Repertoire: Bream actively commissioned and collaborated with 20th-century composers, including Britten, Walton, and Tippett, significantly expanding the modern classical guitar repertoire beyond its Spanish roots and cementing its status as a serious concert instrument.
Track Listing
Disc 1
| Track | Composition | Composer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concerto For Lute & Strings RV93 | Composed By – Antonio Vivaldi | 9:57 | |
| 1-1 | Allegro Giusto | 3:45 | |
| 1-2 | Largo | 3:47 | |
| 1-3 | Allegro | 2:05 | |
| 1-4 | Packington's Pound | Francis Cutting | 2:29 |
| 1-5 | Greensleeves | Francis Cutting | 3:47 |
| 1-6 | Fantasia "A Fancy" | John Dowland | 2:36 |
| 1-7 | Canarios | Gaspar Sanz | 1:03 |
| 1-8 | Sonata In D (Arranged By – Pujol) | Mateo Albéniz | 3:55 |
| 1-9 | Leyenda (Asturias) From Suite Española Op 47 (No.5) | Isaac Albéniz | 5:54 |
| 1-10 | The Miller's Dance (From The Three Cornered Hat) | Manuel De Falla | 2:15 |
| 1-11 | Recuerdos De La Alhambra | Francisco Tárrega | 3:49 |
| 1-12 | Chôros No. 1 | Heitor Villa-Lobos | 4:50 |
| 1-13 | Prelude No. 1 In E Minor: Andantino Espressivo | Heitor Villa-Lobos | 4:03 |
| 1-14 | Prelude No. 2 In D: Poco Animato | Heitor Villa-Lobos | 2:36 |
| 1-15 | En Los Trigales | Joaquín Rodrigo | 3:32 |
| Concierto De Aranjuez | Composed By – Joaquín Rodrigo | 22:01 | |
| 1-16 | Allegro Con Spirito | 5:50 | |
| 1-17 | Adagio | 10:22 | |
| 1-18 | Allegro Con Brio | 5:01 |
Disc 2
| Track | Composition | Composer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | Mallorca Op. 202 | Isaac Albéniz | 7:17 |
| Suite Española, Opus 47 | Composed By – Isaac Albéniz | 17:44 | |
| 2-2 | Cataluna | 2:53 | |
| 2-3 | Granada | 5:39 | |
| 2-4 | Sevilla | 4:43 | |
| 2-5 | Cádiz | 4:17 | |
| Cantos De Espana, Opus 232, No. 4 | Composed By – Isaac Albéniz | 7:16 | |
| 2-6 | Cordoba | 7:16 | |
| 2-7 | Dedicatoria (From Cuentas Para La Juventud) | Enrique Granados | 1:42 |
| 2-8 | La Maja De Goya (Tonadilla) | Enrique Granados | 4:43 |
| 2-9 | Danza Espanola No 4 (Villanesca) | Enrique Granados | 6:26 |
| 2-10 | Valses Poéticos | Enrique Granados | 12:26 |
| 2-11 | Danza Espanola No 5 | Enrique Granados | 4:11 |
| Tres Piezas Espanolas | Composed By – Joaquín Rodrigo | 14:35 | |
| 2-12 | Fandango | 4:08 | |
| 2-13 | Passacaglia | 7:20 | |
| 2-14 | Zapateado | 3:00 |
Publishers
Label: RCA Victor – 74321 63465 2 Country: Europe Released: 1999 Liner Notes: John W. Duarte Orchestra & Conductor: The Monteverdi Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner
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