FÜR BEETHOVEN – Duo Savigni

This CD program pays tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven’s genius through the fortepiano and guitar on the 250th anniversary of his birth. The pieces on this album are not original works by Beethoven, as the composer never wrote any music for this unique ensemble. However, they are all pieces inspired by the figure of the Maestro from Bonn through transcriptions, arrangements, and dedications.

The instruments used for this recording are of Viennese origin: an Anton Walter fortepiano from 1792 (a copy by Paul McNulty) and an original Anton Stauffer guitar from 1832. The sounds of these two instruments blend perfectly, sometimes imitating each other and sometimes enhancing one another, creating a soft and delicate sound texture.

The project features several collaborations, with valuable artistic contributions to the creation of this album: the graphics were entirely designed by Riccardo Pagliani, a Modena-based graphic designer who has collaborated with the Duo for years. The booklet’s carefully crafted words come from the skilled pen of Leonardo De Marchi, a talented guitarist, musicologist, and friend. Siccas Guitars supports the project in its dissemination, serving as a reference point in the guitar world for the reliability and quality of their work. The beautiful sound of the album is the work of the brilliant Marco Taio.

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For this project and anniversary, we collaborated with the TouchTheSound Project and Siccas Guitars to bring an idea to life. TouchTheSound commissioned composer Claudio Maccari, one of the leading experts in 19th-century guitar, to write a new piece for guitar and fortepiano.

Maccari’s work was inspired by a 1968 letter exchange between Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Mario Sicca. In the letter, the Florentine composer expressed his desire to compose a piece for guitar and fortepiano based on a Beethovenian idea: the Sonata Op. 106 or the Diabelli Variations. Unfortunately, his project never came to fruition due to his passing that year.

Thus, 26 Marzo 2020, Maccari’s piece for guitar and fortepiano, was born—where historical instruments reveal all their potential and characteristics through a language rich in influences and crossovers.