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Thread: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo, from "Cavalleria Rusticana" (1889)

    This is an anonymous arrangement for mandolin quartet, from our group's repertoire folder -- I suspect it's by either Brian Thurlow or Tony Judge. I'm taking this at 70bpm, a bit faster than the usual 50-55bpm for this piece -- the original tempo marking is "andante sostenuto", which I would think is more consistent with my tempo. No idea how fast Mascagni wanted it played in 1889, but the brisker tempo suits the mandolin instrumentation and gives the piece a somewhat different character.

    1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin (x2)
    Mid-Missouri M-111 octave mandolin
    Ozark tenor guitar



    Martin

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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    Having listened back a few times, I think that 70bpm is rather too fast for the piece after all. So, I've re-recorded it at 54bpm, which is the tempo indicated on most editions.

    Same arrangement and same instrumentation as before, except for tempo, but I've also used more distinct dynamics.



    Martin

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    Default Re: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    Can't hear this piece without imagining De Niro boxing in black and white (from the title sequence of Raging Bull).
    PJ Doland
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    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    Quote Originally Posted by PJ Doland View Post
    Can't hear this piece without imagining De Niro boxing in black and white (from the title sequence of Raging Bull).
    Or the final scene in Godfather III. Not sure if the Intermezzo was played (will check this evening) but I always associate Cav. Rust. as a high point in the mostly dreadful sequel.

    Mick
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    Registered User JH Murray's Avatar
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    Default Re: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    The 70bpm version almost seemed like a folk dance piece. The slower version allows a different kind of rhythm to develop. Nice choice.

  8. #6
    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Intermezzo (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")

    Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo, from "Cavalleria Rusticana" (1890)

    I've just recorded another version of this piece, based on the same quartet arrangement I used in 2015 but omitting the mandola part to make the setting less dense and (I hope) more musical.

    1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin (x2)
    Vintage Viaten tenor guitar


    https://youtu.be/VzAjmGbO9xA

    Martin

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