Georgina Whitehead (guitar) Julia White (oboe) perform:
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Sonata in A Minor - Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Siciliana ~ Spirituoso ~ Andante ~ Vivace
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Pièce en forme de Habanera - Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
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Two Suggestions for solo guitar - Salvador Brotons (1959-) Balada ~ Toccata
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'Péruvienne' from Evocations for solo oboe - Henri Tomasi (1901–1971)
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Distribuição de Flores - Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959)
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Sonatine - Günter Braun (Born 1924) Poco Andante – Largo - Allegro
Julia White and Georgina Whitehead began working together in 2005 during their studies at Trinity College of Music. They have developed a varied repertoire which covers Renaissance to late twentieth century classical music, folk tunes and popular works. Their concerts together have included performances at The Bolivar Hall International Classical Guitar Festival, and at Greenwich Fan Museum as part of the Music and Architecture Festival. As well as recitals they also enjoy informal performances and have played for hospital patients and at Canary Wharf Ideas Store, one of Tower Hamlets’ innovative public libraries.
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) originally composed his Pièce en forme de Habanera as a Vocalise etude en forme de Habanera for bass voice and piano in 1907. A song without words, Ravel took as his model the slow, sultry Spanish dance called the habanera -- like most French composers of the period, Ravel was fascinated by the music of Spain -- and used it as the basis of a blindingly difficult virtuoso exercise for the bass voice. Ravel later transcribed the work for cello and piano -- a transcription that retains all the virtuosity of the original -- and from this several other arrangements have been made for virtually any and all instruments with aspirations to virtuoso glory.
Tomasi was born in France, though both his parents were originally from Corsica. He was both a composer and conductor, and travelled widely. From 1930-1935, he was director of the Radio Colonial Orchestra in Asia. During his travels he absorbed exotic colours and sounds which he later used in his music. Péruvienne is the first of four short movements for unaccompanied oboe, with different national characters. The later movements represent the sounds of Nigeria, Cambodia and Scotland.
Salvador Brotons was born in Spain and studied at the Barcelona Conservatory and the University of Florida, USA. He was also an associate professor at Portland State University. His musical language, free from artistic prejudices and avant-garde influence, is characterised by expressive accessibility and naturalness in both his instrumental and vocal writing. This is partly due to the fact that he is both a performer and a prolific composer, and has had a distinguished career as a flautist and conductor. Brotons played the flute in the Orchestra of the Teatro del Liceo, Barcelona (1977–85), was appointed music director and conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1991, and of the Vallès Symphony Orchestra in 1997.
German composer Günter Braun has written several works for guitar, including a setting of six folksongs for guitar quartet, and a duo for guitar and percussion. This three movement work suggests a variety of influences, including Spanish guitar music, and the music of Igor Stravinsky with chromatic harmonies, intricate rhythms and a palette of colours explored on both instruments. The opening movement is mysterious in character whereas the second movement is much darker in mood and unusually gritty, especially in the guitar part. The work concludes with an unusual 5/8 time signature movement with frequent changes of mood and tempo throughout.
