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Craig Ogden: Summertime - an album guide
Classical guitarist Craig Ogden's beautiful Classic BRIT-nominated album of guitar standards and lesser-known works is a fantastic achievement, from Satie to Mozart via Gershwin and Morricone - find out more about it with our track-by-track guide.
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1. Cavatina
Stanley Myers' well-loved theme from the movie 'The Deer Hunter' (pictured) is the delicate and sweetly affecting opening track to Summertime. What better way to kick things off?
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2. Gymnopedie No. 1
Erik Satie's piece is more famously known as a piano composition, but Craig Ogden's turned it into a relaxing piece of classical guitar music.
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3. Summertime
This Gershwin standard from 'Porgy & Bess' (pictured) has been interpreted in so many different ways over the years, but Ogden manages to keep it fresh with this lazy, sultry bit of deep south romance.
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4. Romance
This traditional tune is synonymous with the classical guitar, and Ogden manages to coax out all the romanticism you would expect.
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5. Gabriel's Oboe
Ennio Morricone's theme from 'The Mission' has taken on a life of its own and, oboe or not, it remains a fantastic tune and perfectly suited to the mood of this album.
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6. Adagio, from Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra
Possibly the most famous and well-loved work in the modern classical guitar repertoire, Ogden is careful to make his own mark on this incredibly lush piece by Joaquin Rodrigo (pictured).
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7. Love Theme, from The Godfather
Rather than horse heads in beds and sleeping with the fishes, this highlight from the gangster movie soundtrack (Marlon Brando pictured) is a passionate evocation of love, composed by the great Nino Rota.
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8. Granada
Albeniz's gentle classic evokes the sunny titular area of Spain with its gorgeous grace notes and light harmonics.
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9. Intermezzo, from Cavalleria Rusticana
Another indulgently summery offering, this time from the great Mascagni (pictured in his flame-haired glory) - the Inermezzo conjures up hazy pictures of Sicily in the 19th century.
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10. Greensleeves
Who wrote this medieval hit is still very much in dispute (was it Henry VIII?), but one thing's for sure: Craig Ogden makes it sound far more modern than most.
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11. Suite Espanola
Unsurprisingly, the hazy vistas of rural Spain are effortlessly evoked by this Albeniz standard.
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12. Pelagia's Song, from Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Enlisting the help of the Tippett Quartet, Ogden is in reflective mood for this beautiful Warbeck piece from the Nicolas Cage movie.
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13. Pavane
For some people, Faure's Pavane will take them straight back to World Cup '98, but for us it means only one thing - more beautiful guitar music from Craig Ogden.
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14. Theme from Inspector Morse
It might not be the most natural choice for an album entitled 'Summertime', but Barrington Pheloung's haunting music from the popular TV show is surprisingly apt - this is much more warm, dusky evening than gritty crime drama.
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15. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, 'Rondo Alla Turca'
Not a natural choice for the guitar, this popular rondo sounds as if Mozart might have written it with guitar in mind all along…
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16. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
What a super way to finish the album - warm, romantic and almost enough to bring a tear to the eye. This classic song from 'The Wizard Of Oz' and Ogdens' beautiful arrangement are a fond farewell to 'Summertime'.
