Recensies.
The English translation of the above review:
CD Homaggio a Luigi Embergher,
With great love and dedication for the instrument HET CONSORT with
Alex Timmerman at the forefront have established themselves as top
caretakers of the Embergher-mandolin.
Omaggio a Luigi Embergher
Het Consort conducted by Alex Timmerman
The title of this CD would catch the eye of any Embergher enthusiast and so, as an Embergher devotee, it caught mine. I have known of the Het Consort for several years and, since mandolin Chamber Orchestras who play almost exclusively on Embergher or Embergher influenced instruments are not exactly common place, I was keen to use this opportunity to find out more.
The orchestra was founded in 1990 in The Netherlands. The excellent and informative CD booklet is a fount of information and is worth a good read in its own right. After a very passionate Preface by Dr Marco Chiappini, (the Director of the Embergher Museum in Arpino, Italy) the booklet then gives details of the great Embergher himself and the development of his instruments, details of the orchestra, their instruments, the strings they use, the soloist, conductor and the composers.
The Het Consort prove themselves to be a fine ensemble with a characteristic sparkly and rich Embergher sound. The voices balance well throughout the ensemble. It is a great delight to listen to a plucked ensemble that makes a great effort to move and express together as well as to exploit the dynamic range of their instruments. The CD is full of well crafted lines and although, at times, the inherent problems of plucked ensembles become apparent, the ensemble playing is generally careful and controlled.
This CD displays quite a mixture of musical styles and eras. The Handel makes a lovely opening offering. It introduces us to the homogenous sound of the Ensemble and sets the scene very well for the surprise winner on this disc, the Brandenburg Concerto No.3 by J. S. Bach as arranged by Alex Timmerman. At first glance I was a little nervous to see it on the track listings. It is such a firm favourite for so many people and is so familiar to us as a work for strings that I feel it was a brave thing to try with a plucked ensemble. However they have pulled it off marvellously, illustrating the fine balance that exists within this ensemble. This work requires, and received, an equally high calibre of playing and musicianship in all the voices. I found their rendition very attractive and although slightly stodgy at times in the first movement and a little rushed and lacking in composure in the third, overall it had lovely shape and colour and really worked very well.
The centre piece for this CD is the wonderful Concerto No.1 by Raffaele Calace. Arguably one of Calace’s finest works, the ensemble and soloist do it justice in this arrangement. In including it on the disc they also introduce us to a relatively new face in the mandolin world; the soloist, Sebastiaan de Grebber. This Concerto is a challenging work to play both musically and technically and, on the whole, Sebastiaan does a fine job. The overall spirit and colour of the piece is captured well by soloist and orchestra alike. Although this recording has a few rough corners and Sebastiaan isn’t always quite on top of a few tricky phrases, they play it with the passion and commitment that one feels Calace’s works need. The soaring lines in the 1st movement and the intricate dancing passages in the final movement in the solo part come out beautifully and lyrically over the cushion of sound that the orchestra provide for him. Sebastiaan has made a fine statement in this rendition of a fiercely difficult work and
The other works on this CD are also well executed. I particularly liked the Andriessen Canzone. It was unknown to me and is very beautiful with striking harmonies and lovely textures.
Alison Stephens.
HET CONSORT, Alex Timmerman,
Eigenverlag, 2003.
A detailed report in the CD booklet gives insight on the used (original)
instruments (among unfortunately most modern guitars), strings and
plectra.
This production is jet alone highly praiseworthy because it documents
a clear brilliant mandolin sound, one that we lost sight (ears) of.
I declare publicly, that I was surprised, how good this goes together
with the music of the Baroque epoch. Without exception the Italian
masters of the 19th- and early 20th century [1800 - 1950] are committed
to this [sound] ideal. The quality of the interpretation is fitful.
The CD starts with the well-known Suite Nr. 4 by Händel and the
3rd Brandenburg Concerto by Bach. The ensemble performs here
from engaged up to curt. Also it is not clear to me why these two works
have found their place here with regard to the practice of historical
performance. To the represented school they do not belong; the
applicability of sound will anyhow justify their recording - if the works
just than weren´t treated in a romantic way.
Much better and appropriate are the following numbers:
Rossini´s Overture ´Il Barbiere di Siviglia´, ´Andante Festivo´ by
Jean Sibelius (excellent done) and Ranieri´s ´Preludio´ per Orchestra.
In Calace´s Concerto No. 1 for Mandolin and Orchestra
Sebastiaan de Grebber proves himself to be a virtuoso performer,
who in every way handles the difficulties of this Concerto.
This is how this music has to be played - every mandolinist, studying
this, is recommended this CD recording as a reference.
Especially fine is also the Canzone by Jurriaan Andriessen, less the
Libertango by Piazzolla.
In time straining for the listener (at any rate for me) is the playing
mainly performed at the end of / or behind the sound hole. (ab)
foto Richard Kalina
(review in Mandolin Quarterly, USA.
Plucked String, Inc.
A Norman Levine production.)
Alison Stephens
Solo Mandolin: Sebastiaan de Grebber
Handel, Bach, Rossini, Sibelius, Calace, Ranieri, Andriessen, Piazzolla
I’m certain he’ll be a name to watch out for in the next few years.
Overall this is an interesting, informative and attractive CD; a lovely collection of works with new takes on the familiar and a good introduction to the unfamiliar.
