Entangled Strings: Martinu, Glière, Jaffé & Schulhoff Deborah Gonsalves & Berthold Hamburger

• Bohuslav Martinu (1890 - 1959): Duo No. 1, H.157:
• 1 Martinu: Duo No. 1, H.157: I. Preludium 04:20
• 2 Martinu: Duo No. 1, H.157: II. Rondo 09:52
• Reinhold Gliere (1875 - 1956): 8 Morceaux, Op. 39:
• 3 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: I. Prelude 01:38
• 4 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: II. Gavotte 02:32
• 5 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: III. Berceuse 02:26
• 6 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: IV. Canzonetta 01:54
• 7 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: V. Intermezzo 01:48
• 8 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: VI. Impromptu 02:06
• 9 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: VII. Scherzo 03:33
• 10 Gliere: 8 Morceaux, Op. 39: VIII. Etude 01:35
• Don Jaffé (b. 1933): Die Letzten Tage, Op. 10:
• 11 Jaffé: Die Letzten Tage, Op. 10: I. Senza Denominazione 04:06
• 12 Jaffé: Die Letzten Tage, Op. 10: II. Infernale furioso Feroce 02:20
• 13 Jaffé: Die Letzten Tage, Op. 10: III. Serena scorrevole Chiaro 05:22
• 14 Jaffé: Die Letzten Tage, Op. 10: IV. Gemere molto Espressivo 03:03
• Erwin Schulhoff (1894 - 1942): Duo, WV 74:
• 15 Schulhoff: Duo, WV 74: I. Moderato 05:42
• 16 Schulhoff: Duo, WV 74: II. Zingaresca, allegro Giocoso 03:43
• 17 Schulhoff: Duo, WV 74: III. Andantino 04:10
• 18 Schulhoff: Duo, WV 74: IV. Moderato, allegro, presto Fanatico 03:42
• Total Runtime 01:03:52

Info for Entangled Strings: Martinu, Glière, Jaffé & Schulhoff

A unique recital of 20th-century chamber music, essentially melodic but expressively rich, woven seamlessly together by a Spanish-based duo.

In the 20th century, many composers embraced the unique combination of the violin and cello, producing a diverse and captivating repertoire. Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger take the listener on an engaging journey from Reinhold Glière’s post-romantic Huit Morceaux for violin and cello (1909), Bohuslav Martinů’s folk-influenced Duo No.1 (1927) to Erwin Schulhoff’s avant-garde Duo (1925) and Don Jaffé’s moving autobiographical suite, The Last Days (2000).

These compositions showcase the immense artistic possibilities offered by the juxtaposition of the violin’s virtuosity with the cello’s depth of sound. Similarly, the duo repertoire of the 20th century shows the evolution of musical language as composers introduced special playing techniques, unconventional harmonies, and rhythmic complexity, pushing the boundaries of tradition.

While Gliere, Martinu and Schulhoff are all established names, these works for violin and cello have not received the attention they deserve. They are all products of their composers’ full maturity, and perhaps it is only a reluctance on the part of performers and listeners to embrace the possibilities of the violin-cello combination that has prevented them becoming much better known. In each case, the composers demonstrate that no piano is required to anchor the string instruments, when the imagination is fired up, the melodies are firmly shaped and the dialogue engaging.

The case of Don Jaffé is different: born in 1933 in Riga, of Jewish descent, he eventually became renowned as one of the foremost cello teachers in the former Soviet Union. However, finding postwar Soviet culture hardly less anti-Semitic than the Nazi regime, he emigrated to Israel and later moved to Germany. He only began composing late in life: this four-movement duo draws on the composer’s experience of observing a close friend’s painful battle with a terminal illness.

Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger are colleagues in the Symphony Orchestra of Galicia; as Orphelion, they have toured festivals across Europe and in India, Japan, and South America.

In the 20th century, several composers embraced the combination of the violin and cello, producing a diverse and attractive repertoire for this ensemble. From Reinhold Glière’s (1875-1956) post-romantic Duos for violin and cello "Huit Morceaux", Bohuslav Martinů’s (1890-1959) folkloristic Duo Nº.1 to Erwin Schulhoff’s (1894-1942) avant-garde Duo (1925) and Don Jaffé’s (b. 1933) autobiographic "The final days", these compositions show the artistic possibilities offered by the rich combination of the violin’s virtuosity with the cello’s depth of sound. Similarly, the duo repertoire of the 20th century shows the evolution of musical language as composers introduced special playing techniques, unconventional harmonies, and rhythmic complexity, pushing the boundaries of tradition.

Played by the ensemble Orphelion, consisting of Deborah Gonsalves (violin) and Berthold Hamburger (cello).

Duo Orphelion:
Deborah Gonsalves, violin
Berthold Hamburger, cello

Duo Orphelion:
Since its foundation, centered on the artistic activity of Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger, ORPHELION has performed in different constellations and in collaboration with guest artists throughout Europe, Asia and South America. Its repertoire includes works from the classical period to the present day, including pieces composed especially for the group.

For several years, ORPHELION ENSEMBLE has collaborated with the renowned Japanese pianist Mariko Moritani and more recently with the famous Spanish pianist Daniel do Pino, with whom the group will record in 2024 the complete work for piano trio by Joaquín Turina.

ORPHELION ENSEMBLE performs regularly in Spain, Switzerland and Germany. It has participated in numerous music festivals and for 10 years maintained a chamber music cycle at the prestigious "Real Academia de Belas Artes" in A Coruña, with concerts recorded and broadcast by Radio Galicia.

Since 2023, ORPHELION has been recording for the international publishing house BRILLIANT CLASSICS. The ensemble dedicates a significant part of its musical activity to pedagogy, giving master classes to students all over the world. Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger collaborate with projects such as the "National Youth Orchestra of Spain (JONDE)", the academy of the "Orquestra Sinfónica de Galicia" and from 2024 also with the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in Mumbai.

Booklet for Entangled Strings: Martinu, Glière, Jaffé & Schulhoff