Carlo Munier (1906): Mazurka Allegra (with score)

[Martin Jonas]

Carlo Munier (1859-1911): Mazurka Allegra
From: "Il Plettro", Anno I, No. 3 (1906)

Carlo Munier was the most prominent classical composer for mandolin of his day, but this particular mazurka is much more popular dance piece than classical concert repertoire. Composed for two mandolins and guitar and following the conventional form of the mandolin mazurka of its day. It's fun, though, and I'm playing it much as I would do with a Di Bella or Pagani dance piece by one of their in-house jobbing tunesmiths.

This piece was originally published in one of the first issues of the fortnightly magazine "Il Plettro", published in Milan from 1906 onwards.

1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin
Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin
Ozark tenor guitar

The score is from the Nakano collection (attached).



Martin

[rebus]

Very nice

[billhay4]

Delightful, Martin, and, as usual, quite interesting art.
Bill

[imusici]

Thanks very much for posting it.
Best Regards Martin.

[Martin Jonas]

Thanks, all. It's a fun mazurka and I like it for its down-to-earthness. Munier has a tendency of being overly elaborate (as does Calace for that matter) which apart from making it harder to play also takes away from the melodic quality of the music. This is a welcome exception.

Bill: the artwork shows costume designs by Leon Bakst for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes around 1910. I thought the kinetic quality of the sketches suits the music.

Martin

[PH-Mando]

That was a very pleasant mazurka. Nice pictures too.

[Martin Jonas]

This piece is another of Munier's mazurkas that I have now revisited in lockdown (after "Mazurka sentimentale"). Since my earlier 2015 recording, a better scan of the same published score has appeared at IMSLP:

https://imslp.org/wiki/Mazurka_Alleg...nier%2C_Carlo)

This new recording is played with in a more "live" setting and somewhat faster and looser than my old one. I have omitted the second mandolin part to streamline the arrangement.

1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin
Vintage Viaten tenor guitar



Martin