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giovanni r.Battista (jranata:

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iBaroque guitar :Master in iBo(ogna

Ey Craig!JL 1(usse{{
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In the last issue ofSoundboard, I began to explore His compositional style is somewhat inconsistent; some
the music of neglected baroque guitar composers by pieces are rather unspec tacular or repetitive, but oth­
presenting a pair of works by the Belgian composer ers rival in elegance and melodic invention the best
Francois I.e Cocq. Thisissue continues thejourneyinto works of de Visee, Bartolotti, or Roncalli. The two
this seldom-heard repertoire by looking at the music of balletti included in this edition of Soundboard are
Giovanni Battist a Granat a.1 drawn from his Soavi concenti di sonata musicale.
Although Granat a was prolific and widely pub­ They are both in A-minor, one of Granat a's favorite
lished during his lifetim e-relea singsevenmajorbooks keys, and make a nice pair when played together .even
for the baroque guitar between 1646 and 1684-v ery though they were not initiall y conceived ofas a umt. In
little is known of his life today. He greatly expanded these two gems, Grana ta displays a consummate
the upwards range of the baroque guitar and wrote master y ofcounterpoint. He constru cts the phrase s so
several works for the "theorboed-guitar," a rare instru­ that they unfold and increase in energy as the compO­
ment that had the top five courses of a standa rd sition proceeds. Such beauty , sophistication, and
baroque guitar with an additional seven low bass compositional craft is rarely surpas sed by his contem­
riders. Some of Granat a's intabulations explore scor­ poraries.
datura tunings.
Granat a's relationship to otherIt alian guitaristsis California Polytechnic State University
a fascinating and complex one. He became embroiled

in a series ofaccusations and counter-eharges between

1. For a discussio n of Granata and his works see Richard Pinnell,

himself and his guitar-teacher, the renowned Franc­
Francesco Corbetta and the Baroque Guitar. 2 vols. (Ann ~,
esco Corbetta. In his preface to the Soavi concenti di Michigan: UMI Research Press. 1980). p. 103-10: Robert StnZlch.
sonatamusicaleperlachitarraspagnuola(1659)(Opus "Granata. GiovanniBattista."TheNew GroveDictionary ofMusic and
4), Granat a openly insulted "certain profes sors"-a Musicians. ed. by Stanley Sadie. vol. 7 (New York: Macmillan). pp.
thinly disguis edjab at his old mentor, Corbetta then 629-30; and the introduction by James Tylerto the facsimile edition of
turned the tables and claimed that Granat a had pub­ Granata· sSoavi concenti di sonate musicali per la chitarra spagnuo1a
lishedi n Venice some ofCorbetta'scompositionsclaim­ (1659) (Monaco: Editions Chantare lle, 1979).
ing them as his own. In addition Granat a relies
heavily upon Foscarini, quoting ~d paraph rasing
Foscarini's prefaces as the prefaces to his own books.2 2. See Pinnell, Francesco Corbetta. p. 103. 106-7; Slrizich.
"Granata." p. 629; and Tyler. intro. to Granata 's Soavi concenti. p. iv.

GFA Soundboard
28 !=:nrinp" 1989
 Balletto al Signor Giorgio G. B. Granata
Costa Piacentino (1659) arranged by C. H. Russell

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GFA Soundboard 29 Spring1-89
 Balletto (1659) G. B. Granata
arranged by Craig H. Russell

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GFA Soundboard
30 Spring 1989
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3 2 2 2

World
MAURO GIULIANI
Class

Luthier
The Complete Works
in 39 volumes (3700 pages). in reprints of the first and early editions.
JOSE
with prefaces by Dr. BrianJeffery·

ORIBE
":''''''0/ The set is now complete. It is the first time that the complete
works of this major classic composer for the guitar have been
made available. The set includes 18 volumes of guitar solos,
6 volumes of guitar duets, as well as the three concenos,
Demands~·.
works for guitar and flute or violin, and works for guitar and
u. '~'=-:

string quartet, guitar and piano, and vocal works. The edition
Perfection incorporates much new research. The music (with few excep­
tions) is clear and legible for performers.

The price for the entire set until 31 May 1989 is US 5750.00
post free worldwide. It will rise thereafter.
He To purchase this imponant set, send your order with an
Chooses ordinary US dollar cheque for $ 750.00 either to Tecla Editions
at the London address given below (phone London 01-435
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Bronze A detailed list of the separate volumes, and of offprints, is

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-...they leave me with nothing more to desire.- TECLA EDmONS . PREACHERS COURT
- - JOSE ORIBE-­ CHARTERHOUSE . LONDON ECIM 6AS . ENCLAND

GSP 1411 CLEMENT ST SAN FRANCISCO CA 94118

GFA Soundboard 31 Spring 1989