Classical Banjo: The Perfect Southern Art
John Bullard banjo
The complexities and flourishes of baroque music call to mind certain instruments. The harpsichord. The lute. And now, the banjo. On CLASSICAL BANJO – THE PERFECT SOUTHERN ART, John Bullard bucks tradition to make the humble instrument an unexpected star of classical repertoire. In an artistic marriage of separate musical worlds, Bullard lends the earthy pluck of the banjo to a program of Schumann, Handel, Bach, and more, creating a stunning display of the instrument’s unique and underused timbre and potential for virtuosity.
Track Listing
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94: I. Nicht schnell | Robert Schumann | John Bullard | 3:02 |
| 02 | Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94: II. Einfach, innig | Robert Schumann | John Bullard | 3:42 |
| 03 | Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94: III. Nicht schnell | Robert Schumann | John Bullard | 3:57 |
| 04 | Concerto in D minor: I. Andante e spiccato | Alessandro Marcello | John Bullard | 3:22 |
| 05 | Concerto in D minor: II. Adagio | Alessandro Marcello | John Bullard | 4:31 |
| 06 | Concerto in D minor: III. Presto | Alessandro Marcello | John Bullard | 4:48 |
| 07 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: I. Andante | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:16 |
| 08 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: II. Vivace | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:38 |
| 09 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: III. Presto | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:11 |
| 10 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: IV. Vivace | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:07 |
| 11 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: V. Siciliana | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:59 |
| 12 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: VI. Vivace | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:36 |
| 13 | Partita No. 5 in E minor: VII. Presto | Georg Philipp Telemann | John Bullard | 1:01 |
| 14 | Trio Sonata in G Minor, HWV 393 Op. 2, No. 8: I. Andante | George Frideric Handel | John Bullard | 3:04 |
| 15 | Trio Sonata in G Minor, HWV 393 Op. 2, No. 8: II. Allegro | George Frideric Handel | John Bullard | 2:15 |
| 16 | Trio Sonata in G Minor, HWV 393 Op. 2, No. 8: III. Largo | George Frideric Handel | John Bullard | 2:11 |
| 17 | Trio Sonata in G Minor, HWV 393 Op. 2, No. 8: IV. Allegro | George Frideric Handel | John Bullard | 2:45 |
| 18 | Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: II. Fuga | George Frideric Handel | John Bullard | 6:35 |
| 19 | "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from BWV 147 | J.S. Bach | John Bullard | 3:06 |
| 20 | Lyric Pieces, Book I, Op. 12: II. "Waltz" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 1:51 |
| 21 | Lyric Pieces, Book IX, Op. 68: II. "Grandmother's Minuet" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 2:11 |
| 22 | Lyric Pieces, Book IX, Op. 68: IV. "Evening in the Mountains" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 3:01 |
| 23 | Lyric Pieces, Book III, Op. 43: III. "In My Native Country" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 2:20 |
| 24 | Lyric Pieces, Book I, Op. 12: IV. "Elves' Dance" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 1:08 |
| 25 | Lyric Pieces, Book IV, Op. 47: IV. "Halling" | Edvard Grieg | John Bullard | 1:36 |
Recorded July 2015 and January 2016 at Canterbury Music in Toronto, Canada
Producer Jayme Stone
Session Engineer David Travers-Smith
Editing, Mixing & Mastering David Travers-Smith at found.sound.toronto
Executive Producer Bob Lord
Artistic Directors, Albany Records Peter Kermani, Susan Bush
VP of A&R Brandon MacNeil
A&R Chris Robinson, Danielle Sullivan
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Aidan Curran
Digital Marketing Manager Brett Iannucci
Artist Information
John Bullard
Over the course of his performing and recording career, John Bullard has invited audiences to share in a transformative revelation: to experience the artistic marriage of banjo and classical music. “Absolutely enchanting,” writes critic Graham Rickson of the UK-based The Arts Desk. “A musical education and experience that broke genre barriers,” noted Morgan Morrison, program director for the performance space The Barns of Rose Hill.
Notes
Other banjoists have dabbled in the classical field, but only a few have approached the repertoire with such single-minded intent. Pete Pardee, Fred Boyce (one of John’s primary influences) and Brazil’s Rogerio Santos have each made significant, if somewhat unheralded, strides in advancing the banjo as a “classical” instrument. This, however, is the first full-scale banjo project devoted to the profound works of Bach and his contemporaries.
The sheer act of transcribing these pieces for the banjo is a daunting task to be sure. By performing them with such consummate grace and agility, John becomes a potent new voice on the instrument. In the process, he helps to confound preconceived notions as to what the banjo can (or should) do.
– Tony Trischka, Rounder Recording Artist
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.