Una Limosa

Peter Blanchette, 11-string alto archguitar,
13-string tenor archguitar, with The Virtual Consort

This is without doubt the most impressive collection of arrangements we ever assembled and performed as The Virtual Consort. In particular, the Shostakovich transcriptions stand out as ground-breaking repertoire, performed with grace, virtuosity and passion. It offers a varied, recital-style program ranging from full symphony movements of CPE Bach to Schubert lieder, with Amy Elizabeth Wheeler’s lovely rendition of “Der Jüngling an der Quel,” to Strauss’ iconic Blue Danube Waltzes, a Vivaldi organ concerto, even and J.S. Bach’s Violin Concerto in E. Many listeners have expressed fondness for the instrumental arrangements of Barios’s solo guitar music- a rarity, to be sure.
It was an outpouring of the intense level of activity we were engaged in during the period following our successful appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. At the time, while being courted by record companies, we produced an astonishing three CDs in 15 months. The inspiration that came from so much new interest in our music truly precipitated a nearly obsessive level of discovery and delight in this great music.

 

Click on the song titles to hear excerpts from this album: