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Music on Thursdays - Online
Thursday 10th June 2021
Julian Bream
classical guitarist extraordinaire
Performers: principally Julian Bream
with John Williams, Stéphane Grappelli, and Peter Pears
also featuring Andy Summers & Ben Verdery
Richard Miller's selection of youtube recordings to illustrate the genius of Julian Bream
Available: from Thursday 10th June
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Programme
Julian Alexander Bream CBE
15 July 1933 - 14 August 2020
Traditional (probably Elizabethan)
first registered in London in 1580
Greensleeves
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
from Lute Suite in E minor BWV 996 (c1708-17)
Bourrée
from Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro in Eb major BWV 998 (c1735)
Allegro
Francisco de Asis Tárrega y Eixea (1852-1909)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra Memories of the Alhambra (1899)
Frederic Mompu Dencausse (1893-1987)
from Suite Compostelana (1962)
II Coral
V Canción
Joaquim Malats i Miarons (1872-1912)
Serenata Española (1896)
Claude Debussy (1852-1909)
from Children's Corner (1906-08)
VI Golliwogg's Cakewalk
Django Reinhardt (1910-1953)
arr Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
text & melody collected by Ernest John Moeran (1894-1950)
published as Six Folk Songs from Norfolk
The Shooting of His Dear
William Turner Walton (1902-1983)
from Five Bagatelles (1970-71) written for Julian Bream and dedicated to composer Malcolm Arnold
Bagatelle No 5
Edward Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
from Nocturnal after John Dowland Op 70 (1963)
VIII Passacaglia
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)
すべては薄明のなかで – ギターのための四つの小品 –
from All in Twilight (1987)
IV Slightly Fast
English Traditional Folk Tune 16th/17th century
later New Orleans Traditional Folk
The House of the Rising Sun
Joaquin Rodrigo Vidre (1901-1999)
from Concierto de Aranjuez (1934)
II Adagio
Andy Summers (Andrew James Somers, b1942)
Ben Verdery (b1955)
12 February 2021, theworld premiere performance
in New York, of
Bream Dream
Concert duration: 61 minutes
15 July 1933 - 14 August 2020
Traditional (probably Elizabethan)
first registered in London in 1580
Greensleeves
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
from Lute Suite in E minor BWV 996 (c1708-17)
Bourrée
from Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro in Eb major BWV 998 (c1735)
Allegro
Francisco de Asis Tárrega y Eixea (1852-1909)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra Memories of the Alhambra (1899)
Frederic Mompu Dencausse (1893-1987)
from Suite Compostelana (1962)
II Coral
V Canción
Joaquim Malats i Miarons (1872-1912)
Serenata Española (1896)
Claude Debussy (1852-1909)
from Children's Corner (1906-08)
VI Golliwogg's Cakewalk
Django Reinhardt (1910-1953)
arr Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
text & melody collected by Ernest John Moeran (1894-1950)
published as Six Folk Songs from Norfolk
The Shooting of His Dear
William Turner Walton (1902-1983)
from Five Bagatelles (1970-71) written for Julian Bream and dedicated to composer Malcolm Arnold
Bagatelle No 5
Edward Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
from Nocturnal after John Dowland Op 70 (1963)
VIII Passacaglia
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)
すべては薄明のなかで – ギターのための四つの小品 –
from All in Twilight (1987)
IV Slightly Fast
English Traditional Folk Tune 16th/17th century
later New Orleans Traditional Folk
The House of the Rising Sun
Joaquin Rodrigo Vidre (1901-1999)
from Concierto de Aranjuez (1934)
II Adagio
Andy Summers (Andrew James Somers, b1942)
Ben Verdery (b1955)
12 February 2021, theworld premiere performance
in New York, of
Bream Dream
Concert duration: 61 minutes
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► Please help us to fund our recent 'as live' concert recordings
If the concerts cover their costs we will be able to do more. Please donate now ! Many thanks to those who have donated already. |
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Hidden amongst all the detailed information given in the confusing and conflicting government proclamations concerning the Corona virus throughout the last twelve months, I came across a news item reporting that the English classical guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream had died on 14th August 2020 at the age of 87.
Regarded as one of the most distinguished guitarists of his generation he played a significant role in improving the public's perception of the classical guitar as a respected solo instrument.
The teenaged Bream, son of a jazz guitarist, gave his debut guitar recital in Cheltenham on 17th February 1947, at the age of 13. I have been unable to find details of the programme of this concert however it could well have included these items.
Regarded as one of the most distinguished guitarists of his generation he played a significant role in improving the public's perception of the classical guitar as a respected solo instrument.
The teenaged Bream, son of a jazz guitarist, gave his debut guitar recital in Cheltenham on 17th February 1947, at the age of 13. I have been unable to find details of the programme of this concert however it could well have included these items.
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Traditional (probably Elizabethan) first registered in London in 1580 Greensleeves (3m50) performed by Julian Bream in 1972 |
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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) from Lute Suite in E minor BWV 996 (c1708-17) Bourrée (1m35) performed by Julian Bream |
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Julian Bream was accepted by the Royal College of Music for his piano playing and advised to leave his guitar at home as the instrument was not taught at the College. This eventually led him to resign from the College, thus paving the way to an illustrious solo career.
In the early to mid twentieth century the guitar repertoire was limited to arrangements of works written by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Schubert and other classical heavyweights, or the nineteenth century Spanish composers, Sol, Tarrega, Carulla amo ngst them.
Here are two examples:
In the early to mid twentieth century the guitar repertoire was limited to arrangements of works written by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Schubert and other classical heavyweights, or the nineteenth century Spanish composers, Sol, Tarrega, Carulla amo ngst them.
Here are two examples:
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Johann Sebastian Bach from Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro in Eb major BWV 998 (c1735) Allegro (4m00) performed by Julian Bream |
. . . and one of my personal favourites:
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Francisco de Asis Tárrega y Eixea (1852-1909) Recuerdos de la Alhambra (1899) (3m55) Memories of the Alhambra The famous Recuerdos de la Alhambra is a piece designed primarily to develop technical proficiency according to Tarrega's new-found principles, but musically it is undoubtedly a fine repertoire piece. Julian Bream 1983 |
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As Bream's career advanced, and his popularity increased, he was able to expand his repertoire considerably to include works by Federico Mompou and Joaquin Malats:
Frederic Mompu Dencausse (1893-1987)
from Suite Compostelana (1962)
II Coral (3m10)
V Canción (2m50)
Compostelana relates to Santiago de Compostella. The pilgrimage city at the end of the Camino de Santiago, Pilgrimage of St James, or simply "the Camino", is situated in the north western province of Galicia.
The word is also used for the 'passport' that shows one has completed the Camino.
from Suite Compostelana (1962)
II Coral (3m10)
V Canción (2m50)
Compostelana relates to Santiago de Compostella. The pilgrimage city at the end of the Camino de Santiago, Pilgrimage of St James, or simply "the Camino", is situated in the north western province of Galicia.
The word is also used for the 'passport' that shows one has completed the Camino.
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Joaquim Malats i Miarons (1872-1912)
Serenata Española (1896) (3m50)
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In further developments of his playing career, collaboration with other artistes became more common.
Among these, fellow guitarist John Williams, violinist Stéphane Grappelli, and tenor Peter Pears.
Among these, fellow guitarist John Williams, violinist Stéphane Grappelli, and tenor Peter Pears.
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Claude Debussy (1852-1909) from Children's Corner (1906-08) (2m50) VI Golliwogg's Cakewalk performed by Julian Bream and John Williams in the Church of All Saints, Wardour Castle, Wiltshire |
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Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) (1m45) performed by Julian Bream and Stéphane Grappelli |
arr Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) text & melody collected by Ernest John Moeran (1894-1950) published as Six Folk Songs from Norfolk The Shooting of His Dear (2m50) performed by Julian Bream and tenor Peter Pears |
O come all you young fellows that carry a gun,
I'd have you get home by the light of the sun, For young Jimmy was a fowler and a-fowling alone, When he shot his own true love in the room of a swan. Then home went young Jimmy with his dog and his gun, Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle, have you heard what I've done? Cursèd be that old gunsmith that made my old gun, For I've shot my own true love in the room of a swan." Then out came bold Uncle with his locks hanging grey, Saying, "Jimmy, dear Jimmy, don't you go away. Don't you leave your own country till the trial come on, For you never will be hangèd for the shooting a swan". So the trial came on and pretty Polly did appear, Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle, let Jimmy go clear, For my apron was bound round me and he took me for a swan. And his poor heart lay bleeding for Polly his own." |
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As his popularity grew during the second half of the 20th century, many contemporary composers were writing specifically for Bream. Lennox Berkeley, Malcolm Arnold, Benjamin Britten, William Walton and Toru Takemitsu among them.
Here is a selection of these:
Here is a selection of these:
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William Turner Walton (1902-1983) from Five Bagatelles (1970-71) written for Julian Bream and dedicated to composer Malcolm Arnold Bagatelle No 5 (2m30) performed by Julian Bream in the Church of All Saints, Wardour Castle, Wiltshire |
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Edward Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) from Nocturnal after John Dowland Op 70 (1963) VIII Passacaglia (7m05) performed by Julian Bream (premiered 12 June 1963) |
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Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) すべては薄明のなかで – ギターのための四つの小品 – from All in Twilight (1987) IV Slightly Fast (2m50) performed by Julian Breamin in the Church of All Saints, Wardour Castle, Wiltshire |
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As an example of how wide-ranging Julian Bream's taste in music roamed, I have included his arrangement of the traditional Blues The House of The Rising Sun to the background of an interesting modern dance performance. This recording is only available by clicking through to youtube.
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English Traditional Folk Tune 16th/17th century later New Orleans Traditional Folk The House of the Rising Sun (3m45) arranged and performed by Julian Bream following the success of the version by The Animals (1964) |
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I have tried, but I cannot resist any longer, so Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez must be included. Here is the second movement, the Adagio.
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Joaquin Rodrigo Vidre (1901-1999) from Concierto de Aranjuez (1934) (9m50) II Adagio taken from Bream's 1984 film segments for Channel 4, entitled ¡Guitarra! A Musical Journey Through Spain |
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I would like to end this brief foray into the musical life of Julian Bream with a tribute to him by Andy Summers, guitarist of the band The Police, and classical guitarist Ben Verdery. Here is their most recent collaboration, Bream Dream.
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Andy Summers (Andrew James Somers, b1942) & Ben Verdery (b1955) 12 February 2021, the world premiere performance in New York, of Bream Dream (5m15) a tribute to the life and work of Julian Bream, written and performed by Andy Summers, archtop & electric guitars, and Ben Verdery, classical guitar |
I hope you have enjoyed my personal perspective on the life and work of guitarist Julian Bream (1933-2020).
Richard Miller
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We hope you have enjoyed Richard Miller's selection of you tube video recordings celebrating the life of Julian Bream
Next week, Lynda Chang is our host for a selection of Unusual Instruments - instruments you probably have not heard before
Next week, Lynda Chang is our host for a selection of Unusual Instruments - instruments you probably have not heard before
just two more of these weekly video selection concerts
to get us to the end of June
after which we will take a short break, returning LIVE at
Leatherhead Methodist Church
from July 22nd
comments welcome: musiconthursdays@gmail.com
to get us to the end of June
after which we will take a short break, returning LIVE at
Leatherhead Methodist Church
from July 22nd
comments welcome: musiconthursdays@gmail.com
▼ last week's 'as live' concert recording ▼
accordionist Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade |
▼ next week's selection concert ▼
Unusual, Rare, . . . or just plain weird |
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Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade
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Buck Brass
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Ibrahim Aziz
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Thomas Ang
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Phil Hopkins
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Carmenco
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organist
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Diphonon
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Jazz on Thursday
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We need your help to fund our concerts recorded 'as live' by professional musicians
► Did you listen ?
►Did you remember to give afterwards ? Here is a further chance to do so If the concerts cover their costs we will be able to do more. Please donate now ! Many thanks to those who have donated already. You set us all a great example ! |
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