Giuliani was an Italian
guitarist, cellist and composer who
settled in Vienna in 1806. He is reputed
to have played the cello in the first
performance of Beethoven’s 7th
Symphony. In 1819 debts forced him to
leave and return to Italy. He composed
about three hundred works involving
the guitar and, in later life, frequently
performed with his daughter Emilia,
also a virtuoso guitarist.
On this disc Giuliani’s
music is presented as the bread of a
musical sandwich, the meat of which
is an arrangement of Schubert’s Arpeggione
Sonata. The first piece, the Gran Duetto
Concertante is the only one performed
on the instruments for which it was
originally written i.e. flute and guitar.
It is in three movements as follows:
(i) andante sostenuto; (ii) minuet and
trio; (iii) rondo militaire. This is
followed by an arrangement to relish,
made for guitar solo a few years after
Schubert’s death, of Ständchen.
This is one of his greatest songs and
part of the collection published posthumously
as Schwanengesang. After the
Arpeggione Sonata, the disc concludes
with Giuliani’s Grosse Sonata, also
a duo for which the original violin
part has been transcribed for flute.
This is a considerably more substantial
work than the opener, nearly twice as
long and in four movements. It is structurally
similar except that there is an additional
movement placed second presenting a
theme and variations. Giuliani’s music
is lively and attractive; definitely
wholemeal bread.
Schubert’s Arpeggione
Sonata is here played on the flute and
guitar with the parts separately transcribed
(the guitar part by the performer, Johannes
Möller). Since the arpeggione (a
bowed guitar with six strings invented
in 1823) rapidly became obsolete, some
kind of transcription is inevitable
and today the work is normally played
on the cello. Here the piano part is
played on the guitar and the arpeggione
part on the flute, the higher register
of which provides for quite a different
effect. If on paper this seems to be
a curiosity, it works surprisingly well,
particularly when played as beautifully
as it is here.
The performers, the
Swedish "Duo 2xm" (i.e. Mats
Möller and his son Johannes) are
each in total command of their instruments
and combine perfectly. The sound is
very natural and has a fair degree of
intimacy despite the recording being
made in a large concert hall. The presentation
of this disc is also excellent. There
is no booklet since all the information
is presented on a carded exterior which
unfolds to reveal a central plastic
case for the disc. This works very well
(and being thinner than usual is space-saving)
but there is no space for any translations.
The Arpeggione
Sonata is a marvellous work which should
not be missed in its usual cello/piano
format. It emerges fresh as new here
and is a delight to the ear. If the
programme appeals, this should give
much pleasure.
Patrick C. Waller
Early
Music
Duo 2xm (Mats Möller, flute; Johannes
Möller, guitar) 
