MV Cremona

Las Musas de la Guitarra - Francesco Molmenti

$17.99

Spend $60 or more and shipping's on us!

Details

Composer
Julian Arcas, Claude Debussy, Jose Ferrer y Esteve, Enrique Granados, Miguel Llobet, Antonio Jimenez
Artist
Francesco Molmenti
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
MV Cremona
Released
Oct 30, 2026
Catalog #
MVC026072
UPC
8032632230724

About

Italian guitarist Francesco Molmenti plays the historic Antonio de Torres 1884 guitar from the 'Carlo Carutti Collection, ' located at the Ala Ponzone Civic Museum in Cremona. Antonio de Torres Jurado (Almeria, 13 giugno 1817 - 19 novembre 1892) stands as a central figure in the history of guitar making. His contribution was crucial in defining the dimensions, shape, design, and construction technique of the modern classical guitar. Thanks to his work, the instrument acquired the features that still distinguish it today. Torres' training most likely took place in Granada. This formative period coincided with what is known as the first era of his activity, which ended in 1869. During these years, the technical and artistic level achieved by the Spanish luthier was particularly high, confirming him as one of the greatest makers of his time. After a break of several years, Torres began in 1875 what is defined as the second era of his production. This phase, which continued until his death in 1892, was characterised by a perfect balance between shape, proportions, weight, and dimensions, elements that made his guitars models of reference for generations of luthiers. The more than one hundred known guitars built by Torres were admired and often imitated: over the years, many instruments were attributed to him, even if they were fakes, sometimes made by renowned and skilled luthiers. A representative example of Torres' work is the guitar preserved in the Carlo Alberto Carutti collection. Built in Almeria, the instrument features a label with the date 1884 and progressive number 59, placing it in the 'second period' of the luthier's creative activity. This era was characterised by the use of more economical woods such as cypress and mahogany, which Torres alternated with finer materials such as maple and Brazilian rosewood intended for top-end instruments. Different options that did not affect the sound quality of the guitars made by the Almeria luthier. Two elements give coherence and unity to the programme of this recording. First, all the selected pieces share the presence of a female name in their title; moreover, almost all the composers are of Spanish origin (with the exception of Claude Debussy) and lived during the period in which Antonio de Torres (Almeria, 1817-1892) built his guitars. It is known that Julian Arcas, Francisco Tarrega, Miguel Llobet, and Antonio Jimenez Manjon played instruments crafted by Torres. Of the other composers, fewer biographical details are known, but the aesthetics of their works perfectly match the timbre and sensitivity of the nineteenth-century guitar. The programme also includes two compositions by non-guitarist composers: La maja de Goya by Enrique Granados and La fille aux cheveux de lin by Claude Debussy. The former, in Miguel Llobet's transcription, is ideally connected to the selection of Catalan songs; the latter, conceived as a 'bonus track, ' is a poetic homage to the French composer and to his ideal dialogue with Spain - a country he never visited, yet deeply evoked, as in La soiree dans Grenade.

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 Verdi - Fantasia sobre motivos de La Traviata 07:16
    Track
    1
    Title
    Verdi - Fantasia sobre motivos de La Traviata
    Duration
    07:16
    Composer
    Julián Arcas
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  2. 2 Luisita 04:00
    Track
    2
    Title
    Luisita
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Jose Vinas
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  3. 3 Tirolesa 02:47
    Track
    3
    Title
    Tirolesa
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Jose Vinas
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  4. 4 Urania, Op. 47 03:47
    Track
    4
    Title
    Urania, Op. 47
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    José Ferrer
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  5. 5 La Danse des Naiades (Dance of the Naiads) 03:52
    Track
    5
    Title
    La Danse des Naiades (Dance of the Naiads)
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    José Ferrer
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  6. 6 María 01:42
    Track
    6
    Title
    María
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  7. 7 Adelita 01:46
    Track
    7
    Title
    Adelita
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  8. 8 Isabel 01:51
    Track
    8
    Title
    Isabel
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  9. 9 Pepita 01:38
    Track
    9
    Title
    Pepita
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  10. 10 Las dos hermanitas 03:26
    Track
    10
    Title
    Las dos hermanitas
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  11. 11 4 Mazurkas: No. 3. Marieta 02:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    4 Mazurkas: No. 3. Marieta
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  12. 12 Rosita 01:46
    Track
    12
    Title
    Rosita
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Francisco Tárrega
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  13. 13 Rosita 02:38
    Track
    13
    Title
    Rosita
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Antonio Jiménez Manjón
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  14. 14 Matilde, Op. 4 02:03
    Track
    14
    Title
    Matilde, Op. 4
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Antonio Jiménez Manjón
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  15. 15 Lola, Op. 6 03:07
    Track
    15
    Title
    Lola, Op. 6
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Antonio Jiménez Manjón
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  16. 16 Tonadillas al estilo antiguo: No. 8. La maja de Goya (arr. M. Llobet Solés for guitar) 03:58
    Track
    16
    Title
    Tonadillas al estilo antiguo: No. 8. La maja de Goya (arr. M. Llobet Solés for guitar)
    Duration
    03:58
    Composer
    Enrique Granados
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  17. 17 El testament de n'Amèlia (Amèlia's Will) 02:00
    Track
    17
    Title
    El testament de n'Amèlia (Amèlia's Will)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  18. 18 El noi de la mare (The Mother's Son) 01:56
    Track
    18
    Title
    El noi de la mare (The Mother's Son)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  19. 19 La pastoreta (The Little Shepherd Girl) 01:21
    Track
    19
    Title
    La pastoreta (The Little Shepherd Girl)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  20. 20 La filla del marxant (The Merchant's Daughter) 02:46
    Track
    20
    Title
    La filla del marxant (The Merchant's Daughter)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  21. 21 El mestre (The Teacher) 03:06
    Track
    21
    Title
    El mestre (The Teacher)
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  22. 22 La filadora (The Spinner Woman) 01:24
    Track
    22
    Title
    La filadora (The Spinner Woman)
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Miguel Llobet Solés
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti
  23. 23 Préludes, Book 1: No. 8. La fille aux cheveux de lin (arr. for guitar) 03:05
    Track
    23
    Title
    Préludes, Book 1: No. 8. La fille aux cheveux de lin (arr. for guitar)
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Francesco Molmenti