English Guitar Concertos

"Proving that the Aranjuez is not the only guitar concerto, Chandos has brought out an impeccably performed disc of music that deserves to be more widely heard. The balance between guitar and orchestra is ideal and this disc is a must for any fan of English music."
- ***** Five Stars BBC Music Magazine (Mar 2002)

'...with Craig Ogden providing a formidable successor , matching in sensitivity and flair Bream's own vintage recordings'.
- Gramophone

This collection of works for guitar and orchestra is celebratory in more ways than one. In its choice of composers it highlights a progression of anniversaries: 2001 marks the eightieth birthday of Sir Malcolm Arnold, 2002 the centenary of Sir William Walton and 2003 the centenary of Sir Lennox Berkeley.

This is also a celebration of the guitar itself as these works represent an approach independent of traditionally Spanish and Latin-American orientated or inspired music.

Arnold and Julian Bream were close personal friends and shared a love of jazz and late nights. Together they explored the sounds and techniques possible on the guitar and the first result of this collaboration was the Serenade for Guitar and Strings, which was completed in 1955. The writing has a slightly Mediterranean feel.

Arnold's Guitar Concerto was composed in 1958. Particularly memorable is the lyrical second subject of the first movement. The second movement is an hommage to Django Reinhardt. The final movement, in rondo form, is reminiscent of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.

Walton and Arnold were great friends and confidants throughout their lives and the strength of this feeling is reflected in the fact that Walton's Five Bagatelles are dedicated to Arnold. Composed in 1971, towards the end of his compositional life, and premiered by Bream in 1972, the Bagatelles reveal the versatility of both composer and instrument. The five short pieces contain abundant examples of the incisive, angular writing which characterises some of Walton's greatest works, such as Belshazzar's Feast.

Like Walton's Bagatelles, Lennox Berkeley's Guitar Concerto was composed relatively late in his compositional career. Much of Berkeley's early music is typified by a resolutely tonal bias despite the growing trend towards atonality in the musical world of the mid-twentieth century. The struggle to reconcile atonality and tonality is a feature of the period to which the Guitar Concerto belongs.

'Craig Ogden's playing leaves one in no doubt that here is a virtuoso player… The playing throughout the programme is top-class with Craig Ogden in fine form technically and musically… Recommended.'
Classical Guitar on CHAN 9674 (Tango Nuevo)