Giulio Cesare Ricci's Notes

Choosing six tracks from my fonè. catalogue for a Signoricci LP named after a turntable that I consider the best in the world has not been an easy task.

The 3 tracks of side A are from the fonè classical repertoire while the other 3, in side B, are taken from the Manley Jazz repertoire.

SIDE A opens with one of the most significative tracks of the project I have realized with Salvatore Accardo and the Orchestra da Camera Italiana dedicated to Astor Piazzolla, the Milonga de l’Angel, in the versionm for violin and strings by Salvatore Accardo and Francesco Fiore. In Salvatore Accardo’s words “I believe that Piazzolla’s place is with the great musicians of the 20th century, like Gershwin, who have been able to convey into their compositions, in an absolute original way, the musical currents of their time, thus creating a personal and highly distinctive style. If you happen to listen for the first time to one of his pieces, you understand immediately that it’s by Piazzolla. His melodies are unique, yearning. And so is the rhythm”. For the Astor Piazzola project Salvatore Accardo played the violin Stradivari “Hart” 1727, previously used by the great Zino Francescatti. I made this recording at the Sala del Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Roma.

Then I have choose a Sonata, n° 12 the Ascension, by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber with Marco Fornaciari - violin, Leonardo Colonna - double bass and Ernesto Merlini - horgan. This Sonata is part of the “Sonatas of the Holy Rosary” in which Biber, bohemian, and considered among the greatest violinists and composers of the XVIIIth century, describes the holy mysteries one by one, prescribing to the violin a different tuning for each Sonata in order to better differentiate the spiritual atmosphere. Marco Fornaciari played a Floreno Guidante violin, 1740.

I realized this recording in the ancient Prepositura di San Verano, in Peccioli - Pisa.

Side A closes with the Presto from the “Summer” of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with Marco Formaciari - Maestro Concertatore and solo violinist - and the fon. ensemble. The Four Seasons are a success the renew and strengthen itself at every listening and specially at every meeting with the public, since about two and a half centuries. It can be certainly said that it does not exist a page of the classical repertoire more universally known. For the recordings of the Fours Seasons Marco Fornaciari and the fonè ensemble played the famous instruments of the Palazzo Comunale di Cremona Collection:

› Violin Antonio Stradivari: “Cremonese” ex Joachim, 1715
› Violino Giuseppe Guarneri:”del Ges.” - “Stauffer”, 1734 
› Violino Andrea Amati:”Carlo IX di Francia”, 1566 
› Viola Antonio e Gerolamo Amati:”Stauffer”, 1615

To be highlighted the use the dooble-bass Gasparo da Salò: “Colonna”, 1590

It is the first time in the history of the del Palazzo Comunale di Cremona Collection that all these instruments have been used for a recording which I made at the ancient Church of San Sigismondo in Cremona. The three tracks on SIDE B are three recordings realized by the legendary David Manley, an historical figure of the worldwide hi-fi realm.

David Manley, who has linked his name to esoteric electronics, has also signed a series of completely analogue recordings which represent an absolute reference from the quality point of view in the jazz genre.

I acquired and used the original master tapes to recreate the quality of these superb recordings in this Super Vinyl 45Rpm 200g format - Made in Japan - title.

giulio cesare ricci, 2009