Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Flight

Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble gathers its more virtuosic, lively and passionate repertoire under the idea of flight. Flight of the Bumble Bee and Le Streghe (The Witches) lead the way; the remaining works answer with energy and vitality that suggest flights of fancy.

Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble ensemble
Kurt Jensen solo mandolin
Juliette Maxwell solo accordion
Petra Laity solo flute
Louise Docherty solo guitar

The programme spans more than four centuries, from Baroque Vivaldi through Classical Mateo Albéniz and the Romantic voices of Paganini and Rimsky-Korsakov to the twentieth century. Konrad Wölki (1904–1983) and Hermann Ambrosius (1897–1983) stand among the composers who shaped the mandolin-orchestra repertoire. Peter Hoch (b. 1937) and Ralph Paulsen-Bahnsen (b. 1954) supply rhythmic interest through displaced accents and changing metres. François Menichetti may be little known beyond the mandolin world, yet Hadjidakis’s Never on Sunday is a familiar favourite and sits well with the ensemble.

Solo mandolin: Kurt Jensen

Solo accordion: Juliette Maxwell

Solo flute: Petra Laity

Solo guitar: Louise Docherty

Artists

Photograph of Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble

Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble

Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble is a Melbourne plucked-strings chamber orchestra of about twenty-four players. Formed in 1978, its members perform on mandolins, mandolas, guitars, mandocello, double bass and piano accordion.

Photograph of Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, priest and virtuoso violinist. He is best known for his instrumental concertos, above all the violin cycle The Four Seasons.

Tracks

  1. Sonata in D Mateo Albéniz Arr: Helen Evans
  2. Le Streghe (The Witches) Niccolò Paganini Arr: Karl Thomas
  3. Suite No. 6 Hermann Ambrosius

  4. Präludium
  5. Menuett
  6. Sarabande
  7. Gavotte
  8. Badinerie
  9. Jugoslavija Ralph Paulsen-Bahnsen

  10. Allegro
  11. Adagio
  12. Allegro
  13. Allegro moderato
  14. Rondo Scherzoso Konrad Wölki
  15. Baška Voda Peter Hoch
  16. Flight of the Bumble Bee Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Arr: Basil Hawkins
  17. Guitar Concerto in D Antonio Vivaldi Arr: Siegfried Behrend

  18. Allegro
  19. Andante – Largo
  20. Allegro
  21. Serenade Espagnole François Menichetti
  22. Never on Sunday Manos Hadjidakis

Performers

Composers

Photograph of Niccolò Paganini

Niccolò Paganini

Paganini's Caprices, variations and concert pieces expanded the violin's technical and colouristic range, from left-hand pizzicato and harmonics to theatrical showpieces such as Le Streghe. They still set the standard for virtuoso display.

Photograph of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov wrote orchestral music steeped in Russian folk colour and fairy-tale narrative, with a gift for bright, precise orchestration. Short showpieces such as The Flight of the Bumble Bee and Song of India travel easily into arrangements for almost any instrument.

No photograph: Manos Hadjidakis

Manos Hadjidakis

Along with his contemporary Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis (1925-1994) is one of the most prominent Greek composers of the century.

No photograph: Basil Hawkins

Basil Hawkins

Basil Hawkins is an arranger and performer associated with Melbourne’s Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble, contributing to its recorded mandolin and guitar repertoire.

No photograph: François Menichetti

François Menichetti

François Menichetti is a French composer and mandolinist whose works for mandolin orchestra include Serenade Espagnole and Hungarian Journey.

No photograph: Karl Thomas

Karl Thomas

Arranger whose mandolin-orchestra work appears on Australian recordings of Italian repertoire, virtuoso showpieces, and Christmas carols.

No photograph: Konrad Wölki

Konrad Wölki

Konrad Wölki (1904–1983) was a German composer, mandolinist and music educator whose works helped shape the modern repertoire for plucked-string orchestra. He wrote extensively for mandolin and guitar ensembles and published teaching methods and a history of the mandolin.

Where to listen

Flight is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
MCD 298
List price
$25.00 AUD
Category
Classical
Genres
Contemporary Classical, Baroque
Barcode
EAN 9314574029826

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