Carlo Malizia (1935) 9 Adagio & 10 Allegro for Mandolin and Orchestra Solo mandolin: Sebastiaan de Grebber Instrument: Raffaele Calace 1914

Carlo Malizia (1935) studied violin with Louis Metz at the Muzieklyceum in Amsterdam. After his graduation, he chose a business career but in his spare time he intensely kept busy with music. For more than 30 years he has conducted the Amsterdam AMTG, one of the most famous Dutch mandolin orchestras. He was one of the founders of the Amsterdams Mandoline Kamer Orkest. The orchestra just mentioned mainly performs contemporary music conducted by Malizia himself. He has written more than 40 compositions for mandolin orchestra and has earned a reputation as an arranger. Carlo Malizia dedicated his 'Adagio & Allegro' for mandolin and orchestra to the famous Dutch mandolin player Lenie Kerkhoven. The piece of music audibly shows the beautiful combination of a solo mandolin combined with a mandolin orchestra. Immediately after the opening chords of the Adagio, the solo mandolin exitricates itself from the orchestra. The subtle and supporting role of the orchestra in this part is striking. In the Allegro, which reminds of old style country and western music, the supporting role of the orchestra is much more compelling. Sometimes the solo mandolin and the first mandolins seem to cross swords and even the mandolas enter into combat. In the second theme, the solo mandolin again plays solemn tremolos, accompanied by the guitars. After this, the beginning of the Allegro is refered to and the orchestra plays the melody. The solo mandolin is sunk in reverie and only comes to its senses when the orchestra changes to the reprise. Because of the rasgueados in the guitar parts in the coda there seems to be a competition between the orchestra and the soloist. However, in the final measure both of them are scored off by a powerful fortissimo by the mandolas!

Alex Timmerman ©2000

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