Guitar Recital: Music of Bach Sor Turina Tippett

WONDERFUL PLAYER, WAS THIS MAN.n morse

Julian Bream has retired as a touring concert artist. In his prime, he made some unsurpassed recordings. This BBC CD offers never released recordings from throughout Bream’s career. On it you’ll find the following:Bach: Chaconne from BWV 1004recorded 1975 (studio)Sor: Variations on a theme of Mozart, Op. 9recorded 1982 (live)Turina: Sonata, Op. 61recorded 1956 (studio)Tippett: The Blue Guitarrecorded 1984 (studio)Schubert: String Quartet No. 9, arranged by Bream for guitar duorecorded 1985 (radio broadcast with John Williams)Much of this CD has the over-bright sound Bream seemed to favor for his recordings. (This same recorded sound followed Bream when he switched from RCA to EMI.) So you’ll hear the usual left hand squeaks and other extraneous noises that plague most Bream recordings. Further, Bream’s prime was from about the late 1950’s to the early 1970’s. After that, his tone was increasingly brittle, and a bit of strain crept into his playing.Nonetheless, it’s a treat to have these performances available. Whatever Bream’s faults, he was always a supremely passionate and intelligent artist, far more interesting than many of today’s note-perfect automatons. I’m particularly fond of the Schubert—why can’t more guitarists take on substantial repertoire rather than the fluff that peppers many guitar programs these days? And the Turina performance is young Bream at his over-the-top best. Some might find it emotionally overcharged, but its youthful conviction is compelling.Here’s hoping there are more Bream performances in the vaults that will soon come to light.

This collection of BBC radio recordings of Julian Bream spanning three decades of his career contains some long lost gems. The brightest of these jewels is the first broadcast performance of Sir Michael Tippet's 'Blue Guitar', one of the cornerstones of 20th century guitar music and not otherwise released by Bream. This is the version of that piece to have.Also included are Bream's only recordings of Turina's Sonatina Op. 61 and the duo guitar version of Schubert's String Quartet No. 9 recorded with John Williams.

An album of previously unreleased Julian Bream recordings is certainly a cause for celebration! This collection provides a glimpse into the supreme artistry of this wonderful musician. Whether he is sensitively interpreting Bach, joyously playing the delightful Sor, sparring with his occasional duet partner John Williams, or delving into the intensity of a modern composition, Bream's love of the music and of the guitar shines through and is absolutely contagious! I hope that one of these days the BBC digs into their Julian Bream archives once again (or as often as possible!) to provide more of these fantastic recordings.

This collection of BBC radio recordings of Julian Bream spanning three decades of his career contains some long lost gems. The brightest of these jewels is the first broadcast performance of Sir Michael Tippet's 'Blue Guitar', one of the cornerstones of 20th century guitar music. This is the version of that piece to have.Also included are Bream's only recordings of Turina's Sonatina Op. 61 and the duo guitar version of Schubert's String Quartet No. 9 recorded with John Williams.B. Arthur is a professional guitarist and guitar teacher active in Northumberland UK.

The cd arrived days before it was expected. Well done. And it is a wonderful recording of Julian Bream's unbelievable talent.

This is vintage Julian Bream. One of history's great masters of the classical guitar. Nothing more need be said.