Burgess: Complete Guitar Quartets - Mēla Guitar Quartet

Composer and novelist, Anthony Burgess, was a unique creative artist whose dual mastery of music and literature resulted in a career strewn with an output of remarkable diversity. Burgess came into contact with the Aighetta Guitar Quartet while living in Monte Carlo in 1986, and the sublime arrangements and original works in this recording were all composed for this ensemble. The three guitar quartets range from the well-crafted First Quartet intended as a homage to Ravel, while the Second and Third Quartets explore virtuoso technique alongside adventurous and at times haunting harmonies and polytonality.

1 I. Très Vif 4:20

2 II. Passacaille: Assez Lent 4:14

3 III. Très Vivace 4:17

4 The Planets, Op. 32 – III. Mercury, The Winged Messenger (1916)

Composed By – Gustav Holst

4:08

Guitar Quartet No. 2 (1988) (16:15)

5 Prélude: Poco Lento – I. Fuga: Molto Moderato 3:24

6 II. Scherzo: Presto 3:25

7 III. Chorale: Moderato 4:31

8 IV. Rondo: Allegro 4:49

Trois Morceaux Irlandais

Written-By – Traditional

(4:57)

9 No. 1. The Ballad Of Persse O'Reilly 2:04

10 No. 2. The Lark In The Clear Air 2:01

11 No. 3. Jig 'The Irish Washerwoman' 0:52

Guitar Quartet No. 3 (1989) (12:11)

12 I. Allegro Vivace – 5:07

13 II. Andantino 2:52

14 III. Moderato Molto 4:11

15 Oberon, J. 306 – Overture

Composed By – Carl Maria von Weber

8:5