Ferdinand Rebay: Complete Original Works For Three Guitars – Chitarra Trio

Rebay’s works for guitar trio represent the most noteworthy contribution by any composer to this formation. Indeed, the prevalence of numerous guitar ensembles in German-speaking lands was a long-standing tradition, primarily due to the abundance of guitar societies in these regions. Guitar orchestras were known to employ instruments with differing tunings to achieve a broader melodic range. Rebay adopted this approach in several of the compositions that are present in these recordings. This CD comprises a Trio which is an original transcription made by Rebay in 1940 after a solo piano work he had written in 1901. It is one of the longest works for this ensemble and it encompasses a wide range of affections and emotions. The Suite über altfranzösische Volkslieder (1933) is inspired by ancient French songs, and embodies the liveliness of that repertoire. Rebay’s Sechs leichte Variationen über das Lied “Alles neu macht der Mai…” splendidly demonstrate his mastery of the genre “theme with variations”, while the late Kleine Elegie is a touching piece from the composer’s last year. The album is completed by an imposing G-major Trio with reminiscence from earlier musical styles.