Carlo Cecere (1706-61): Sinfonia in G for two mandolins and basso

[Martin Jonas]

Carlo Cecere (1706-61): Sinfonia in Sol Maggiore per due mandolini e basso
II - Larghetto

This is a late Baroque/early Classical sinfonia in three movements for two mandolins and basso continuo. I have recorded the second movement (Larghetto) as a trio of two mandolins and tenor guitar, using the first and second mandolin and mandola parts from an arrangement for plucked orchestra by Mario Monti, respectively. I think the mandolin parts are verbatim from Cecere's urtext, so it's really just Monti's mandola part taken as a basso realisation. I presume Monti also wrote guitar, mandocello and contrabass parts, but I don't have those. I think it actually works quite nicely as a trio.

"Baroq-ulele" nylgut-strung mandolin
1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin
Ozark tenor guitar



Cecere is buried at Santa Maria La Nova in Naples (as is Count Dracula aka Vlad The Impaler, according to recent but rather outlandish press reports), so he was in the right place and time to participate in the development of the Neapolitan baroque mandolin. I have mixed photos of that church with paintings from 18th century Naples.

Martin

[Martin Jonas]

I've now got around to recording the other two movements of this nice late-Baroque/pre-Classical mandolin sinfonia, and have replaced my upload from last week with a video of the complete piece with all three movements:

Carlo Cecere (1706-61): Sinfonia in Sol Maggiore per due mandolini e basso
Arranged by Mario Monti

I. Allegro -- 0:00
II. Larghetto -- 2:39
III. Allegro Assai -- 5:42

"Baroq-ulele" nylgut-strung mandolin
1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin
Ozark tenor guitar



I've really enjoyed playing this piece, and the allegro movements keep you on your toes. I've slowed it down a bit (by about 20%) from Monti's markings, as his tempi were a bit ambitious for me...

Martin