Concerto for Bassoon, Harp, and strings by André Mehmari (Brazil) * English Version

junio 05, 2021

Concerto for Bassoon, Harp, and strings by André Mehmari (Brazil) * English Version

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Hi everyone! In the middle of our musical trip, we visited a paradise of the world called Brazil, and while we were there found a masterpiece, with the rhythm of drums and caipirinhas, we enjoyed the Concert for Bassoon, Harp, and Strings by André Mehmari.

The first movement called "Burlesque" is a humorous musical conversation between the strings, the harp, and the bassoon simultaneously, the first theme is a syncopation game that develops rapidly, suddenly a change of character in the piece appears on the scene, a beautiful expressive melody in the voice of the bassoon, the principal theme "Burlesque" reappears with the same characteristic of the "syncopation game" that progresses virtuously with some cadences of great difficulty for the bassoon, and so reaching its end, without no warning and totally explosive end.

The second movement called "Lamento", in contrast to the first movement is a totally calm and very expressive piece for the voice of the bassoon in its high register, a beautiful mysterious accompaniment of the strings and a subtle presence of the harp, majestically the musical lyricism that we find in "Lamento" is too higher and beautiful and slowly disappears until its ends.

The third movement called "Facode - Pacote" begins with typical rhythms of the region, which immediately transport you to Brazil, little by little we find some themes of "Burlesque" on the Harp, and a beautiful cadence to conclude the totally expressive concerto that explores the entirety of the bassoon register, some themes from "Burlesque" are taken up again in the cadence and with great virtuosity and technical complexity it develops, the cadence concludes together with a new theme of the harp to ending the concerto with Brazilian rhythms and with a great virtuous character ends the concerto.

In conclusion, this concert is a great musical discovery worthy of becoming one of the most important concerts of the orchestral literature for bassoon, due to its beauty and complexity, making it a musical jewel of the 21st century, the concert is dedicated to maestro Fábio Cury; the concerto was composed in January 2009 and is part of the album "Velhas e Novas Cirandas" Brazilian music for bassoon and orchestra by Fábio Cury.

In the following link, you can listen to the second and third movement of the concert h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzDeUVMpEak&list=PLRfrrPjQhU65bOdQg-S3UxhSbnVHVQyEj&index=42

Fábio Cury

Bassoonist

Maestro Fábio Cury completed his undergraduate studies in Bassoon Interpretation from UNCAMP in 1991, where he studied with maestro Paul Justi, shortly afterward he was awarded a scholarship by the program (DAAD) and was a student of the famous maestro Klauss Thunemann at the Conservatory of Hannover Theater and Music, likewise, studied a master's degree at the University of Campinas, Brazil in 1999, and is currently studying the doctoral program at the University of São Paulo.

Maestro Cury has been awarded several times and especially in 2010 his album "Velhas e Novas Cirandas" Brazilian music for bassoon and orchestra, was awarded as the best recording of the year by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics; Maestro Cury works as a soloist, chamber musician, and professor at various universities in Brazil, he has performed at music festivals inside and outside his country and is actively dedicated to promoting Brazilian music in conferences and concerts internationally.

André Mehmari

Composer

Maestro André Mehmari was born in Brazil, he is a pianist, composer, and arranger, his works have been performed by the most important orchestras in the country and he has been awarded several prizes throughout his career.

Mr. Mehmari became known to the public in 1998 when he won the first edition of the Visa MPB award, named as one of the most original and complete musicians on the Brazilian music scene.

Thank you very much for joining me on this musical trip through Brazil! We have found an incredible concert, performed by a virtuoso and prominent bassoonist from South American such as maestro Fábio Cury.

See you next week in Chile!