Ferdinando Carulli, a prolific composer and one of the greatest guitar teachers of all time, was born in Naples in 1770 and later settled in Paris in 1808, where he achieved great success.
Compositional Technique
Carulli's Metodo per Chitarra op. 27, still widely used today, integrates concepts from singing and string instruments, featuring a recurring pattern of scales, chords, and pieces in the same key to build technique.
Interpretation
The performers use period guitars strung with catgut and a 'historically informed' performance practice, resulting in a distinct aesthetic with a more audible 'noise' from plucking and fretting, marked timbral differences, and a particular lightness of sound.
Cultural Impact
Carulli's Metodo per Chitarra op. 27, published in 1810, significantly boosted his popularity and remains one of the most widespread and best pedagogic texts for guitar learners in the world.
Historical Context
The guitar underwent a significant transformation in the late 18th century, evolving from a five-double-string instrument to the six-single-string configuration still used today, primarily through the addition of a bass string.
Instruments
The album features two period guitars from the collection of Lorenzo Frignani in Modena: an R&W Davis from London (ca. 1830/1835) and a Joseph-Francois Gérard from London (ca. 1840).
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carulli believed the guitar was the most suitable instrument for accompanying the human voice and aimed to fill a gap in the repertoire with his work Solfèges et vocalises avec accompagnement de Guitare, op. 195.
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