The 1800s were a significant century for the guitar, as its configuration settled on a standard six strings, allowing for greater refinement and expressive capabilities.
Instruments
Alexandra Whittingham plays a 2011 Christopher Dean guitar, sourced by Miles Roberts at Kent Guitar Classics, and is an Augustine Strings artist, using their Regal Blue range.
Compositional Technique
Nineteenth-century guitar players adopted techniques from violin virtuosos, such as chords, arpeggios, counterpoint, and vibrato, which were then developed by composers for the instrument.
Recording & Production
Tracks 8 and 9 on this album, Ernest Shand's Légende, Op.201 and The Gnomes, Op.77, are premiere recordings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For the guitar, performer and composer were often the same person, allowing for direct exploration and adaptation of new techniques.
Performer Biography
Alexandra Whittingham has gained over 175,000 YouTube subscribers and her performance videos of classical guitar repertoire have collectively surpassed 25 million views.
Interpretation
Alexandra Whittingham, the performer on this album, aimed to create a 'Romantic warmth' by combining well-known works with lesser-known pieces, some of which were discovered through extensive research.
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