Johann Pachelbel (1653-1701)
1 Canon in D major*

Wolfgang A. Mozart (1756-1791) Divertimento in D major KV 136*
2 Allegro
3 Andante
4 Presto

Raffaele Calace (1863-1934)
5 Rondo, Op. 127 for mandolin and Orchestra*
Solo mandolin: Sebastiaan de Grebber
Instrument: Raffaele Calace 1914

Yasuo Kuwahara (1946)
6 The Song of the Japanese Autumn
(solo-cadens played by: Paul Liklikuwata)

Eileen Pakenham (1914)
7 Colondene
8 Caprice for mandolin and Orchestra
Solo mandolin: Paul Liklikuwata
Instrument: Albert & Muller 1990

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

Annette Kruisbrink (1958)
11 Dreamtime

Jorge Cardoso (1949)
12 Milonga*

Pieter van der Staak (1930)
13 Introduction & Dance for Guitar and Strings*
Solo guitar: Alex Timmerman
Instrument: David J. Rubio 1975

Stepan Rak (1945)
14 Pavan*
15 Rumba*

* Arrangements by Alex Timmerman ©2000

Since the beginning of the 20th century, there have been a great number of mandolin ensembles and orchestras in The Netherlands and its surrounding countries. During the period in which club life played an important role in society, it was not unusual for larger towns to have five or more of these orchestras, thanks to passionate conductors as J.B. Kok (1889-1954), H. Smits (1888-1964) and A. P. Murkens (1870-1946).

The level of the ensembles was high, because of compositions and arrangements made by the pioneers mentioned above, activities of the second-generation conductors, and annual festivals and competitions. However, membership in many orchestras declined when in the sixties television became more popular and leisure activities more diverse. Young people preferred to play the electric guitar and make music in small pop groups. Despite these trends due to which some orchestras were discontinued, the genre was still popular with a wide audience. Well known are, for example, the performances by the plucked orchestra Ceacilia conducted by Wessel Dekker in the Dutch radio program 'Zin in Muziek'.

It is not difficult to hear the pleasure in playing music and the Italian 'belcanto' style in Ceacilia, as in many other orchestras from that period. Het Consort hopes to continue this tradition of pleasure in making music and tries to combine this with contemporary music and arrangements. The title of the CD 'ARANCI IN FIORE' refers to the blossom of the orange tree in South Italy.

The recordings for this CD were made in the Bethelkerk in Amsterdam Tuindorp Oostzaan from October to December 1999. A Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder and two Sennheiser condensator microphones were used to do so. Thanks to Paul Likikuwata, the recording engineer, this recording resembles a live concert of Het Consort.