A Mandolin Concerto and Iberia Suite on Fretworks

Fretworks usually features the classical guitar, and there is plenty of that on the next program, but this week, I'll also have a mandolin concerto from the end of the 18th century by Johann Nepomuk Hummel.  Hummel was a student of Mozart for two years as a youngster and later a friend of Beethoven in Vienna. He wrote his concerto in 1799, not that many years before the mandolin started to go in decline as a serious concert instrument later in the 19 century.  It did, of course continue to remain popular as a folk instrument. The other work that includes orchestra is the Iberia Suite of Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz.  Iberia is a twelve movement piano suite from 1907 and is considered his masterpiece with its rich musical evocation of Spain.  An orchestral arrangement was later made by Enrique Fernandez Arbos that is sometimes heard.  Our performance is an arrangement of three movements made for guitar and orchestra by Leo Brouwer in 1993 as a 60th birthday present for Julian Bream. Also on the program this week, Eduardo Fernandez will play the Grand Solo by early 19th century guitar virtuoso and composer Fernando Sor.  Vladimir Gorbach has a keyboard sonata by Domenico Scarlatti arranged for solo guitar, and Berta Rojas will play a waltz by Agustin Barrios. Join me for Fretworks Saturday and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm on Classical 101. Above is Manuel Barrueco playing the Grand Solo.