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ALSO WITH DENIS AZABAGIC ON CEDILLE RECORDS

(AS CAVATINA DUO WITH EUGENIA MOLINER, FLUTE)

THE BALKAN PROJECT


CDR 90000 117
WORKS BY ASSAD, DUNNE, GAQUERE, IVANOVIC,
KARMON, RIVERA, OURKOUZOUNOV, SPARAVALO,
TADIC & THOMAS
The Cavatina Duo obviously loves this music,
playing it with passion and appropriate subtlety
when needed, never once letting down their
guard when those devilish rhythms come their
way, and giving the whole a fine sense of style
and sophistication. . . . the unquestioned musi-
cianship and fine glimpse into an area probably
unknown to most earn a definite recommenda-
tion.
Audiophile Audition

ACROBATS: MUSIC OF DAVID LEISNER


CDR 90000 096

This is tonal music, rich in invention and


melody, emotionally direct, and beautiful. Im
sure its also a joy to play, with parts that cre-
atively exploit each instruments potential. . . .
Leisners lyricism, gift for melody, and composi-
tional finesse make his music very appealing.
In addition, its doubtful that the Cavatinas
sophisticated and artistic playing could be sur-
passed. Fanfare
Producer Eugenia Moliner
Engineer Bill Maylone
Editing Denis Azabagic
Guitar Steve Connor
Strings Daddario
Recorded Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
October 46, 2011, and December 19, 2012
Front Cover Design Sue Cottrill
Inside Booklet & Inlay Card Nancy Bieschke
Cover Photography Jeff Mauritzen ATANAS OURKOUZOUNOV CARLOS RAFAEL RIVERA
(b. 1970) (b. 1970)
1 Folk Song Variations (6:54) 8 Cancin (1:35)
Cedille Foundation is a trademark of Cedille Chicago, NFP (fka The Chicago Classical Recording
Foundation), a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting the finest musicians and ensembles VOJISLAV IVANOVIC (b. 1959) DUSAN BOGDANOVIC (b. 1955)
in the Chicago area. Cedille Chicagos activities are supported in part by contributions and grants 9 Blues and 7 Variations (5:46)
from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies including the Irving Harris
Caf Pieces* (25:22)
Foundation, Mesirow Financial, NIB Foundation, Negaunee Foundation, Sage Foundation, and the 2 Tear Prelude (3:05)
Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. 3 Funny Valse (3:37) ALAN THOMAS (b. 1968)
4 Tango Caf (Homage Astor Piazzolla) Out of Africa* (19:42)
(4:34) bk Call at Sunrise (3:40)
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CEDILLE CHICAGO, NFP MAY BE 5 Nostalgia (4:23) bl Morning Dance (3:05)
MADE AT CEDILLERECORDS.ORG OR 773-989-2515. 6 Lullaby (for Srdjan) (4:56) bm Zenith (5:31)
7 Improvisation and Dance (4:37) bn Evening Dance (4:20)
bo Cradle Song (3:03)
CEDILLE FOUNDATION trademark of
Cedille Chicago, NFP
1205 W Balmoral Ave., Chicago IL 60640, USA
773.989.2515 tel 773.989.2517 fax TT: (59:40) *World Premiere Recording
CEDILLERECORDS.ORG
CDR 7005 P & C 2013 Cedille Records
All Rights Reserved. Made in U.S.A

2 3
Out of Africa... became these Caf Pieces. They were RIVERA Cancin BOGDANOVIC Blues and 7 Variations
and Around the World not intended to be less serious than I wrote Cancin (Song) as a gift of Written in the same year as my
any other music, however. They are all thanks for director Tom Shadyac. At concerto for guitar and strings, Blues
Notes by the composers Caf, but each has its own particular the time, I was in a band signed to his and 7 Variations (1979) is one of my
OURKOUZOUNOV Folk Song Variations mood and treats a different musical music label, and he had just thrown a early attempts at synthesizing popular
I wrote Folk Song Variations in 1999. style. Tear Prelude is a sentimental newlywed party for my wife and me and classical idioms. It is a virtuoso set
The theme comes from the traditional slow dance, as though sipping a coffee at his house. Not knowing what to of variations based on an unorthodox
Bulgarian folk song, Pozaspa li iagodo? with some tears dropping in. Funny get him as a thank you gift, my wife thirteen-bar blues in 9/8 meter. Most
(Are you Sleeping, Strawberry?). Writing Valse is a persiflage of a Viennese waltz suggested I write him a piece. So I of the variations present very particular
the variations was very satisfying. I spiced with my own jazzy color. Tango wrote and recorded Cancin at a music stylistic characteristics: the first and
enjoyed trying out new techniques on Caf is an homage to Astor Piazzolla; studio and sent it to him. Fast forward second variations are in what could be
the guitar, such as tapping with the its a tango with a Balkanian jazz flavor. about four years: Denis came by my called finger-picking style; the third
left hand while simultaneously playing Not just a melancholic tremolo study, house to visit and saw the score lying uses a big band orchestration; the fourth
harmonics with the right, or, as in the Nostalgia is a concert piece that around. At the time, I felt the piece introduces a sort of Gershwinian
last variations, imitating the tambora, expresses my state of mind at the time was too simple to put out for public rendition of the subject; the fifth is a
a traditional Bulgarian stringed I wrote it: the loneliness of being far performance. Denis fell in love with it, humorous commentary on Fernando
instrument (a kind of long-necked lute). from home and, more importantly, that however, and insisted on taking the Sors Mozart Variations; and the seventh
Each variation clearly uses the theme, feeling of unquenchable longing that score. He began to perform it as his is built on a Brazilian carnival rhythm.
or elements from it. can pervade ones life. My Lullaby is in encore, and audiences took to it well. The seeming incongruity of idioms
a Spanish style. The last piece in the set Later on, I would have the privilege of and compositional styles points to my
IVANOVIC Caf Pieces (in Deniss ordering) combines a slow, hearing Martha Masters, Scott Tennant, interest in developing a widely based
Mediterranean improvisation with a and other guitarists perform Cancin. musical world an interest that has
I wrote Caf Pieces in 198586 during vigorous dance.
my stay in Athens while studying with But it was Denis who initially took my only grown stronger in recent years.
Costas Cotsiolis. I used to improvise Caf Pieces are dedicated to Darko gift to Tom and shared it with the world.
music in different styles for friends and Petrinjak and Istvan Romer who were Cancin contains no borrowed folk THOMAS Out of Africa
colleagues (which I still like to do, and early supporters and champions of my melodies or rhythmic patterns. It is It is in the spirit of Karen Blixens classic
do extensively when performing solo or music. The revised version of Tango one of those pieces that seemed to book (and subsequent, beautifully
with my duo), and I would play moody Caf is dedicated to Denis Azabagic, have already been written, and I was realized film) that I chose the title Out
a particular style that we used to call through whose unique performances fortunate enough to stumble upon. of Africa for this suite for solo guitar. Im
Caf music. So what began as a joke the Caf Pieces have become a big fan of many different strands of
celebrated around the world.
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African music-making, but was afraid of The second movement, Morning About the composers Atanas Ourkouzounov performs
copying or appropriating African music Dance, is again built on an ostinato widely as soloist and with his wife,
Bulgarian guitarist and
in a sort of ethno-tourist way. This is bass line, and has the exuberance and flutist Mie Ogura and serves on juries
composer Atanas
not African music, but rather music that feel typical of South African popular at conferences and conservatories
Ourkouzounov is an
is inspired by my distilled memories music. By using cross-string scalar in Europe, the United States, and
important voice in
of particular African styles of singing, patterns (in which notes ring over each Japan. Ourkouzounov teaches at the
the new generation
for example, or the use of additive other in what guitarists call campanella), Conservatoire Maurice Ravel in Paris.
of music for guitar.
rhythms, irregular metric groupings, I tried to evoke the sound of the kora.
Ourkouzounovs works
and pentatonic or pandiatonic scales. This instrument comes from a different Guitarist and com-
have been published
I also sought to pay homage to two part of Africa but the cross-breeding of poser Vojislav Ivanovic
by leading publ-
great plucked-string instruments of different musical traditions is precisely has garnered numer-
lishers such as
the African continent: the kora (in what I was aiming for in this piece. ous national and
Doberman-Yppan, Productions DOZ
movement 2) and the oud (movement The heat of midday is depicted in international prizes
(Canada), and Henry Lemoine
3). Needless to say, these pieces barely Zenith, which draws on North African/ and distinctions, in-
(Paris). He has placed in composition
scratch the surface of the musical Arabic music in its central and final cluding from com-
competitions including the Michele
traditions and languages of Africa, but sections. Particularly in the middle petitions in the
Pittaluga at Citt di Alessandria (1997),
they do attempt to bring at least a bit section, the sound of the oud (arguably former Yugoslavian
Paolo Barsacchi (1997) and Il fronimo
of this rich heritage under the guitarists the guitars great-great grandfather) is cities of Sarajevo (1975)
from Suvini Zerboni in Italy (1998);
fingers. evoked, including microtonal inflections Ljubljana (1977), and Skopje (1979);
Ciudad de Montevide in Uruguay
The suite consists of five different facilitated by de-tuning the guitars Volos (1983), Greece; and the Prix
(1998); and Carrefour mondial des
movements, which are played in third string. The final section builds to dItalia (1991). He has appeared as a
guitars in Martinique (1998). His works
two different groups without pause a climax via an exploration of the guitar soloist in recitals, in various chamber
are widely performed by internationally
(movements 12 and movements 35). as a percussion instrument. A transition ensembles, and with orchestras in the
recognized artists including Zoran
To give the different pieces a sense of leads to the fourth movement, Evening countries of the former Yugoslavia,
Dukic, Denis Azabagic, Scott Tennant,
unity and direction, I decided to chart Dance, which in turn transforms at its Russia, Greece, Italy, England, Germany,
Shin-ichi Fukuda, Alberto Vingiano,
the course of a day, from sunrise to end into the final movement, Cradle and Spain.
Eduardo Isaac, Pablo Marquez,
sleep. The musics day begins with a Song. This gentle lullaby brings the day Antigoni Goni, Duo Gruber-Maklar, Ivanovics diverse compositional output
Call at Sunrise, a melody presented to a serene close, drawing on musical Thibault Cauvin, Dimitri Illarionov, includes music for solo and accom-
in canon that gradually develops into a material from the first movement to Carlos Perez, Thomas Muller-Pering, panied instruments (guitar, cello, piano,
vibrant ostinato and vocalic melody. create a cyclical return to (the next) Duo Palissandre, Ensemble Nomad, flute, voice, etc.), choral and orchestral
morning. and Patrick Kearney, among others. works, songs, a string quartet, and

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concertos for piano and guitar. Solo performed by Arturo Described as a mus- prize win at the Inter-
guitar works such as his Sonata, Sandoval, Colin Currie, ical world-builder national Gaudeamus
Concerto, and 6 Caf Pieces have won and Chanticleer; and (Gitarre & Laute, Ger- Interpreters Com-
particular acclaim from audiences and by the Cavatina Duo, many), composer and petition in Holland
guitarists worldwide, notably Zoran American Composers improviser Dusan (becoming the only
Dukic, a prominent advocate of his Orchestra (ACO), Bogdanovic has de- guitarist ever to take
works. Ivanovics continuous interest, New England Phil- veloped a personal the top prize). Since
both as a composer and a performer, in harmonic, and Los synthesis of contem- then he has pursued
traditional, improvised, and jazz music Angeles Guitar Quar- porary classical, jazz, an active career as a
includes performing and recording with tet. He has been and world music. His soloist and chamber
world renowned musicians such as Arild awarded prizes by the ACO, Herb Yugoslavian origins and longtime musician.
Andersen (double bass), Paolo Fresu Alpert Foundation, Guitar Foundation involvement with jazz strongly influence Alan Thomass compositions focus
(trumpet), Bendik Hofseth (saxophone), of America, BMI, and ASCAP, and his musical language. As a soloist and on the guitar in both solo and
Paul Vertico (drums), Savina Yannatou received commissions from the Simon in collabora-tion with various artists, chamber music settings, and draw
(vocalist), and Vlatko Stefanovski Bolivar Youth Symphony, Miami Sym- Dusan has toured extensively throughout freely on a broad range of styles and
(guitar), among others. Ivanovics phony Orchestra, and American Wind Europe, the United States, and Japan. techniques, ranging from Renaissance
current focus is performing in the Symphony. His works are featured on He has over one hundred published works, polyphony to Ligeti and other modern
Levante Guitar Duo, with Aleksandra the Warner, Sony, Naxos, and Cedille including a variety of commissions for masters. Other influences include the
Lazarevic, in a program of compositions recording labels, and published by Mel solo guitar, chamber ensembles, and music of Africa and the Balkans, as
he has written specifically for the duo. Bay and Doberman Editions. orchestra. Bagdonavics music can well as computer sound processing
Vojislav Ivanovics music is distributed Dr. Rivera was appointed Composer-In- be heard on close to 20 recordings. and algorhythmic composition. From
by distingued publishers Chanterelle Residence with the Miami Symphony He currently teaches at the Geneva these diverse sources he has attempted
and Doberman-Yppan. Orchestra in 2011 and is a faculty Conservatory. to create music that is both rigorously
Composer of Cuban-Guatemalan member at the University of Miamis constructed and accessible.
Frost School of Music. Guitarist and composer Alan Thomas
descent, Carlos Rafael Riveras works
was born in Atlanta and completed
incorporate a large diversity of musical
his studies at Indiana University. After
influences that reflect his mult-cultural
moving to England in 1997, he quickly
upbringing in Washington, DC,
established himself as one of the
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Miami,
UKs foremost new music soloists and
and Los Angeles. His music has been
ensemble players following his first-

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DENIS AZABAGIC Cavatina Duo (with his wife, flutist phony Orchestra, Sacramento Cham- Illinois, and is the head of the guitar
Eugenia Moliner), and engagements ber Orchestra, Madrid Symphony, department at Roosevelt University in
as soloist with orchestras. Traverse Symphony, Monterrey Sym- Chicago.
phony, and LOrchestre Royal de
In 1993, at the age of 20, Azabagic
Chambre de Mons, among others. Praise for Denis Azabagic
became the youngest winner of
the prestigious Jacinto e Inocencio He has performed at Chicagos The recital by Bosnian guitarist Denis
Azabagic was certainly the finest guitar
Guerrero International Guitar Com- Symphony Center; Savannah on
recital that I have heard in a lifetime
petition in Madrid, Spain. Between Stage; the Ravinia Festival; the Royal of concert-going, and one of the best
1992 and1999 he won 24 prizes in Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (on concerts of any kind I have heard.
international competitions, in- the Masters of the Guitar series); the NC Arts Journal
cluding 11 first prizes. His book, Aix en Provence Festival in France; El
On Competitions, based on his Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Spain; Once he started playing his guitar he
became ageless. One couldnt imagine
experience during these years, is the National Chang Kai-Shek Cultural
where the man, the instrument and the
published by Mel Bay. Center in Taiwan; the National Center music separated, if at all.
for the Performing Arts in Beijing,
Azabagic has recorded 10 CDs for Los Angeles Valley Star
China; and on Radio France in Paris.
several international labels including Azabagics playing is virtually flawless
Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres, Bridge, Azabagics repertoire includes solo and his technical facility is a joy to see
and Orobroy, plus two DVDs for the and orchestral music from the Baro- as well as hear; increasingly I hear him
Mel Bay Company. Critics have praised que era to the present. As a member mentioned in the same breath as John
his recordings and live performances of the Cavatina Duo, he plays a vast Williams, and while such comparisons
for his elegant approach to music and chamber music repertoire, including are invidious, this one is not without
unique way of communicating and many works written expressly for the merit. Soundboard Magazine
Denis Azabagic is one of the most reaching audiences hearts. duo.
compelling classical guitarists on the As a guest instrumentalist and Azabagics love for performing Denis Azabagic uses DAddario strings.
international concert circuit today. soloist, Azabagic has appeared with extends to sharing his knowledge
He performs around the globe, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, of music-making with others. He For more information visit:
maintaining a balance between solo Chicago Sinfonietta, Tallahassee frequently offers master classes while Azabagic.com
recitals, chamber music with the Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Sym- on tour, teaches at University of CavatinaDuo.com

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