Early Romantic Music for Two Guitars

Pasquale Rucco and Douglas James

The duo of Pasquale Rucco and Douglas James specializes in performance of the guitar literature of the early 19th century on authentic instruments of the period. Rucco and James’ programs include some of the most famous of the early Romantic guitar duo literature as well as little-known works. Their recording, Early Romantic Music for Two Guitars, features music of Filipo Gragnani, François de Fossa, Mauro Giuliani, and Antoine Baron de Barcó. While the concert works of Gragnani and Barcó are seldom heard (and are, in fact, recorded for the first time here), the works by Giuliani and Fossa are both contemporary arrangements of very famous music by the well-known composers Haydn and Rossini. These arrangements are exceptional both in their musical quality and suitability for the instruments, retaining all of the charms of Haydn and Rossini while exploiting the textures and timbres of the 19th c. guitar.

The Italian guitarist Pasquale Rucco is the winner of several European guitar competitions, including the 1989 Arturo Toscannini Solo Guitar Competition for the performance of 19th c. music. Since then he has performed regularly in Europe and the United States, both as a soloist and chamber musician specializing in the 19th c. literature played on period instruments. Pasquale Rucco is also the founding director of A.C.I.F., a consortium of music academies operating in the greater Naples region.

Contents of the CD:

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
arr. Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
Sinfonia nell'Opera "La Gazza Ladra"

Filipo Gragnani (1768-1820)
Duo, op. 4, no. 2
Andante mosso
Rondo allegretto

François de Fossa (1775-1849)
Grand Duo, op. 2, no. 2
Allegro
Menuetto
Adagio
Menuetto allegro
Finale presto

Antione Baron de Barcó (17??-18??)
Rondeau pour deux guitarres, op. 1

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
arr. Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
Sinfonia nell'Opera "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"

Italian Romantic Music of the Early 19th Century for Guitar

Douglas James' CD recording features 19th century Italian composers and virtuoso guitarists Mauro Giuliani (1780-1829) and Giulio Regondi (1822-1872).

James presents the music of these early Romantic masters in historically informed performance, combining years of research with a virtuoso technique and authentic instruments of the period. The resulting blend brings to life the delightful music of this most vibrant epoch.

James plays two contemporary instruments: a French guitar decorated with inlaid mother of pearl and originating from the shop of Jaques Derazey between 1830 and 1836; and an Italian guitar built in 1889 by the Florentine luthier Serafino Casini.

Sample track from the CD
Giulio Regondi, Fête Villageoise, Op. 20

All Douglas James CD's are available through cdbaby.com