From the Grim Reaper to a 14 foot giant to an exercise in virtuosity to Steppenwolf..
From the Grim Reaper to a 14 foot giant to an exercise in virtuosity to Steppenwolf..
Robin Hill’s ‘Eclectic City’ Episode 37…
Music: ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ performed by Robin Hill from the album, ‘Air Guitar’….
Hello, this is Robin Hill, and welcome to Episode 37 of ‘Eclectic City’…
The music you just heard was my recording of the Blue Oyster Cult class, ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ from my album, ‘Air Guitar’…its title is particularly appropriate in these strange days of pandemic…
Well, talking of the grim reaper, the next piece was recorded in Holy Trinity Church in Weston, Hertfordshire…this is a building whose oldest parts date back to the 12th Century. In the graveyard of this church is buried the body of Jack O’ Legs. Mr O’Legs was so called because he was allegedly a giant 14 feet tall and in the graveyard his head and feet are marked with stones 14 feet apart.
He was a
Robin Hood type legend who stole from the rich and gave to the poor! The rich finally caught up with him, blinded him and he, in true Robin Hood tradition, shot an arrow into the air and said wherever it landed he wished to be buried. And so it landed, rather conveniently, in the churchyard.
Peter Wiltschinsky and I recorded our album, originally called ‘Danza’ there, and the recording was released on the ASV label. From that recording here is my composition, ‘Esercizio No.1 – Tarantella’ dedicated to the Italian guitarist, composer and friend of the duo, Mario Gangi.
MUSIC: ‘Esercizio No.1’ performed by Robin Hill & Peter Wiltschinsky.
That was the first of three studies I wrote for 2 guitars. Played there by myself and Peter Wiltschinsky. The printed music is available for immediate download from Sheetmusic Plus.
I mentioned that that piece was dedicated to the Italian guitarist and composer, Mario Gangi. He became a friend of the duo and invited us over to Italy to perform on many occasions.
How did the contact with Gangi happen? Well, one day I was browsing through music at Foyles magnificent and famous bookshop in the West End of London.
I stumbled across three pieces in the form of a Suite, for 2 guitars, by Mario Gangi.
The three movements were ‘Andalusa’, ‘Fandango’ and ‘Sevillana’ and the suite was called ‘Suite Spagnola’. I had never heard this piece played, and I was pretty sure it had never been recorded.
The music looked very interesting. To cut a long story short, I bought it and several months later Peter Wiltschinsky and I began to perform it in concert.
It was always well-received so we decided to include it on our first album, ‘Virtuoso Music For Two Guitars’…yes, that’s the one , the one sponsored by a Canadian conman!
I later sent a copy of our album to Mario Gangi, who taught at the St Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. He replied saying he loved our interpretation…and booked us for several concerts in Italy. He later composed ‘Suite Italiana’ for two guitars and dedicated it to us!
Here is the first movement of his ‘Suite Spagnola’
Music: , ‘Andalusa’ performed by RH & PW
That was ‘Andalusa’ from Mario Gangi’s, ‘Suite Spagnola’ played by myself and PW.
Well, we started off with death and the grim reaper….and we’ll finish with birth! Here is my version of ‘Born to be Wild’ by Steppenwolf from my ‘Air Guitar’ album….remember ‘Easy Rider’? Thanks for listening and see you next week…
Music: ‘Born to be Wild’ Robin Hill