The title of this composition derives from the manner in which instrumental contrasts are exploited as in the Concerti Grossi of the period. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is, however, a straightforward adaptation for stringed instruments.
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The title of this composition derives from the manner in which instrumental contrasts are exploited as in the Concerti Grossi of the period. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is, however, a straightforward adaptation for stringed instruments.
The title of this composition derives from the manner in which instrumental contrasts are exploited as in the Concerti Grossi of the period. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is, however, a straightforward adaptation for stringed instruments.
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Carlo Martelli was born on the 12th December 1935 in London to an Italian father and an English mother. By the age of eleven Carlo had developed a passion for the symphony orchestra. Just before his twelfth birthday he started taking regular violin lessons and very soon began writing elaborate orchestral scores achieving a mastery in this field by the age of sixteen, by which time he had obtained a County Scholarship to attend the Royal College of Music in London, studying composition and viola. By the time he was 21 he had written a string quartet and had already had a great deal of success with several large scale serious symphonic compositions, notably his Second Symphony, which had many performances and broadcasts by several major orchestras in the few years after its completion. In the 1960's he turned to film music to make a living, and also worked steadily as a freelance viola player. His arrangements for string quartet, trio and other combinations number well over 250 and are played by hundreds of groups all over the world.
The Passepied is a dance that originated in France and resembles the minuet. This example, arranged by Carlo Martelli from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque, represents a late flowering and highly sophisticated version of the form.
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Bach arr. Martelli – Sleepers Wake, Cantata No. 140 (String Quartet) – Digital Download
The arranger Carlo Martelli has amused himself, and he hopes his audience, by combining Bach's famous melody with Puccini's Nessun Dorma which translated means, of course, 'None shall sleep' - hence Sleepers Awake!
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Bach arr. Martelli – Jesu’ Joy, Cantata No. 147 (String Quartet)
During his 27 years as cantor at St. Thomas's in Leipzig, Bach wrote over 160 cantatas for the various festivals of the church year. This arrangement by Carlo Martelli is of one of the best known numbers of these works.
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Bach arr. Martelli – Sheep May Safely Graze, Cantata No. 208 (String Quartet) – Digital Download
It may come as a surprise to many who love this piece that the deep contentment and severity with which it is imbued carry no religious implications. Here arranged by Carlo Martelli for string quartet, it was originally a soprano solo with obbligato accompaniment for two flutes from the composers Birthday Cantata.
Beethoven, Ludwig Van
Beethoven arr. Martelli – Moonlight Sonata, Movements 1 and 2 (String Quartet)
The first movement of this sonata is one of Beethoven's most loved pieces, with the nocturnal romantic mood it encapsulates being perfectly captured in this arrangement. The third movement has been published separately. The Pavão Quartet recorded the first movement on the CD Dreaming, released in 2008 on Discrete Recordings DISC0801 and re-released in 2010 on Discadia Records DISCA001. Included on the same CD are four more of Martelli’s Grieg, Elgar, Debussy and Dvořák arrangements also published by Broadbent & Dunn.
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Bach arr. Martelli – Et In Unum Dominum from Mass in B Minor (String Quartet)
Bach's vocal style has been accused, quite justly, of being entirely instrumental in origin - therefore this excerpt from the Mass in B Minor is particularly well suited to this arrangement for string quartet by Carlo Martelli.