Forte Distribution Winter 2008 Guitar Catalogue

Julian Bream, considered by many as the greatest classic guitarist of the 20th century, tells the remarkable story of his life in music.

Over three hours of material, illustrated with over one hour of complete musical performances, includes contributions from John Williams, Peter Pears, Igor Stravinsky, William Walton, George Malcolm, Richard Rodney Bennett and Ali Akbar Khan. Bream's influence has resulted in a repertoire rich in contributions from Britten, Walton, Henze, Takemitsu, Tippett, Rawsthorne, Lennox Berkeley and countless others. Bream enthusiastically communicates his musical passions which are celebrated in this generously documented DVD.

Highlights include Julian's return from retirement to the concert hall for a performance of Britten's Nocturnal, written for the guitarist, an emotional return to the composer's home in Aldeburgh, and – as a special bonus in a disc already rich with features – an exclusive BBC Radio 3 recording of Bennett's Sonata for Solo Guitar. Previously offered as a limited edition only through the producers, Avie makes My Life in Music commercially available for the first time to the general public.

The Program:

My Life in Music (119:30)

original soundtrack and alternate director's commentary
new recordings of Britten's Nocturnal and Wintera's Homenaje made especially for this edition of the film with alternate camera angles
over one half hour of "bonus chapters"

Four archival music clips of Bream (18:00)

Dionisio Aguado: Rondo in a minor, Op.2
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Etude No.11
Thomas Morley: Galliard to the Sacred End Pavan (with the Julian Bream Consort)
Sir William Walton: Bagatelle No. 5

An interview with the makers of My Life in Music (10:40)

Bibliography, discography compiled by Judy Caine and Graham Wade, research notes and an illustrated Guitar Timeline examining guitars from the renaissance to the 20th Century

A Rare Stills Photo Montage accompanied by Tárrega: Mazurka in G (2:49)

First release of Richard Rodney Bennett: Sonata for Solo Guitar, recorded in the chapel at Wardour Castle for BBC Radio 3 in 1986 (23:39)

Produced by Judy Caine
Directed and presented by Paul Balmer

Eduardo Fernández is recognized as one of the finest classical guitarists in the world. Fernández rocketed to stardom following his Carnegie Hall debut in 1977, and has maintained an ambitious concert and recording schedule ever since. His remarkably eclectic tastes have led him to create recital programs of unusual variety and to perform and record with historical instruments; he has recently started playing the repertoire of the 19th century on a period guitar. A recognized authority on guitar pedagogy and repertoire, Fernández is also the suthor of "Technik, Mechanik und Didaktik," considered the definitive guide for guitar teachers and students.

With seventeen recordings for Decca and two recent best-selling discs for Oehms Classics, Fernández has cultivated a loyal following for his critically acclaimed recordings. His newest CD also marks his label debut for the eclectic independent label Labor Records, in a program of appealing twentieth century music for guitar that spans the worlds of art music and popular genres as well as the Old and New Worlds.

Barrios: Confesión • Falú: Chacarera Ututa • Lennon/McCartney (arr. Fernández): Eleanor Rigby • Brouwer: Rito de los Orishás • Falú: De la Raíz a la Copa • Gershwin (arr. Barbosa-Lima): Fascinatin' Rhythm • Barrios: Julia Florida • Villa-Lobos: Etudes Nos.10 & 11 • Montaña: Suite Columbiana No.1 • Dyens: Saudade No.3 • Ginastera (arr. Barbosa-Lima): Zamba / Gato • Lennon/McCartney (arr. Fernández): Blackbird
Eduardo Fernández, guitar