Recording Francesco Geminiani’s The Art of Playing the Guitar or Cittra

The Art of Playing the Guitar or Cittra by Geminani (for cetra, viola and cello) with a contemporary realisation by composer Richard Gibson has occupied a fascinating portion of my creative recording schedule this year. It has been a privilege to work with Richard and Doc Rossi on this little known set of key works, recorded alongside David Wyn Lloyd (viola) and Jed Barahal (cello) at Arda Recorders Studio A, Porto, in Portugal. The beautiful main studio at Arda has been perfectly designed to project the characteristics of acoustic instruments and provide musicians with a transparent sound and a comfortable recording environment. 

I was able to select from Arda Recorders' vintage studio microphones cupboard with matching mic pres to present the blend and balance in the room of solo cetra/cittern with contemporary string instruments. I chose AEA, Coles and Royer ribbon mics for their gentle handling of transients - quiet and slightly dark, they bring lots of smooth detail to all the instruments - while a Soyuz large diaphragm stereo array blends together a smooth top end and warm mid-range. Richard Gibson’s continuo realisation brings a new focus to the role of supporting instrumental parts, at times glistening around the soloist, at times expanding with inventive counterpoint the intricate, ornamented solo lines. 

Recording cetra/cittern with Doc Rossi, I have discovered the fragile beauty of these instruments, sometimes almost veiled dynamic and controlled articulation, and importantly how the tessitura contrasts with contemporary viola and cello, a feature of Richard Gibson’s writing. The supportive sound of Arda Studio A emerged throughout the production process while editing and mixing, and the production warmth followed through into mastering both the Geminiani and the Zuckert trio.

Ian Dean, Producer