Drop 3 of 4
Greetings from New Bag End!
I’ve got a very special audio drop for you this time, from my upcoming album Music from New Bag End, but before I get into that, let me mention the other artists who are scheduled to record for Cetra Records.
Oleg Timofeyev, who is known for his stellar work with the 7-string guitar, and also as a lutenist, is going to use his 1761 Rauche cetra to play the Three Sonatas by Rudolf Straube, as well as other works by Straube. Portuguese and classical guitarist extraordinaire Eduardo Soares is working on music for cetra from the Iberian peninsula, including works from Manuel José Vidigal, António da Silva Leite, the Coimbra manuscript and more. Finally, the excellent Enzo Puzzovio is preparing a wonderful collection of music for Renaissance cittern.
And now for the music I’m sharing with you today, John Parry’s Twelve Airs for the Guittar (1761).
This set of 12 tunes is found at the end of Parry’s A Collection of Welsh, English and Scottish Airs … To which are added, Twelve Airs for the Guittar. There are eight solos and four duets. Parry gives only the unadorned melodies with tempo indications for titles. I’ve filled out the solos and have managed to identify some of the tunes. (For all of you cittern nerds, Robert Bremner and David Rutherfoord both give suggestions on how to harmonise tunes in the open tuning used on the 18th-century cetra.)
The odd-numbered tunes are played on an original John Preston cetra, the even on an original Longman & Broderip. Of course the duets feature both instruments.
Air 1st Amoroso
This is “Mwynen Môn”, or Mona’s Tune.
Air 2nd Affetuoso
This is “Maldod Argtwddes Owen”, or Lady Owen's Delight.
Air 3rd Allegro
This is “Glan Feddwdad mwyn”, or Good Humoured and Fairly Tipsy.
Air 4th Allegro
This is “Blodeu'r Drain”, or Briar Blossoms.
Air 5th Largo
This is “Cwympiad y Dial”, or The Fall of the Leaf.
Air 6th Allegro
I haven’t been able to identify this tune.
Air 7th Allegro
This is the well-known “Nôs Galan”, translated as New Year’s Eve, with variations by Parry. I change cetra and technique on the repeats of each variation, first using the Preston, then repeating on the Longman & Broderip, on which I use campanella as much as possible.
Air 8th Moderato
This is “Megen a Gollodd ei gardas”, or Peggy has lost her garter.
Pieces 9-12 are duets. I play the top line on the Preston and the bottom on the Longman & Broderip the first time through, then swap over for the repeats.
Air 9th Allegro
I haven’t been able to identify this tune, but the bass part is similar to “Hush My Child”.
Air 10th Allegro
I haven’t been able to identify this tune.
Air 11th Allegro
This is “Wyt Ti'n Hoffi Dyri' Derwydd”, translated as Do you like Druid’s Tower.
Air 12th Allegro
I haven’t been able to identify this tune.
I hope you enjoy the music - stayed tuned for more.
Doc
The songs from our previous drops are no longer available for free download, but you can now enjoy them all in one place by purchasing the album or streaming them on your favorite audio platforms!