The Amadeus Guitar Duo, Dale Kavanaugh and Thomas Kirchhoff, have a new CD called "Baroque Moments" with, you guessed it, music from the Baroque era.
The one exception is a piece by Cesar Franck inspired by Bach. On the next Fretworks, we'll hear the duo's arrangement for two guitars of the popular Concerto in D, originally for lute strings by Antonio Vivaldi.
The Modern Mandolin Quartet is on hand to set a holiday mood with J.S. Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze, and guitarist Brandon Yip joins members of the San Francisco Guitar Quartet for Noel for Four Guitars by Robert Mayeur.
In music inspired by the Far East, Michael Long is the soloist in the Adagio from Symphony No. 39 for Guitar and Orchestra by Alan Hovhaness. This atmospheric work from 1978 was commissioned by and dedicated to the guitarist, who had studied the traditional music of Japan before making this recording.
Lutenist Christopher Wilke, who has appeared on Fretworks as a guest, performs music by 18th century by German composer Johann Adolph Hasse. His Lute Sonata in Eb is a fine example of music from the last generation of the lute's popularity in Europe before a decline that would only change with the renewed interest in early music beginning in the 20th century.
Join me for Fretworks Saturday and Wednesday evenings at 7 on Classical 101.