Byron Tomingas plays BOCCHERINI; the Fandango Quintet, 2014

Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini 1743 - 1805, late in his life was commissioned to write or adapt his early ensemble music to include a guitar. The result was remarkable, the guitar part was integrated as a full member of the string quintet such that one cannot imagine hearing this without the guitar part included. The Guitar, like the Piano is a percussive instrument which made an ideal platform to emphasize the Flamenco rhythmic flare in Boccherini's rendering. Many composers such as Vivaldi, simply imitated the same lines on several instruments, not with Boccherini! Each part was unique and substantial. Haydn even once said, that Boccherini had taught him the true capabilities of the Cello in an ensemble. Boccherini composed several of these Quintets, this one is the famous "Fandango Quintet".
Boccherini was trained in the elegant royal courts of his home in Italy, but made his career in Spain and fell in love with the spicy Spanish Gypsy sound, Flamenco. Being a virtuoso Cellist, he adapted many Flamenco stylings on the Cello. The Cello always has a significant part in Boccherini compositions, indeed, this work has many sections that sound more like a Duo Concerto for Cello & Guitar.
The Guitar part rendering by Guitarist Byron Tomingas focused the interpretation on bringing in the percussive Spanish Flamenco Gypsy flare that Boccherini had lamented might be lost if this were played outside of Spain. The capabilities of the modern guitar is far more dynamic and sustaining than the smaller guitar of Boccherini's day or even Alberts (1st edition publication) time. This is certainly the golden age of classic guitar with stunning instruments and resonant strings. To enrich the key, Tomingas uses the lower D on the sixth string as is common for Baroque Lute transcriptions. Tomingas, while not a Flamenco artist, has an arsenal of Gypsy techniques including a superb rasqueado and plays this magnificent work with passionate wild abandon!
The work is in three movements (per the original Heinrich Albert edition) with the traditional Medium, Slow & Fast structure. Some editions place the slow, sensual Pastorale first. The last movement begins with a slow introduction, then the part that give the Quintet its name; a Fandango. It was Byron's great fortune to be born in Jackson Hole, the dynamic beauty of the area pervades everything he does so scenes are presented from his other passion, walking remote.
Boccherini: Number 17. First Quintet in D Major for Violins, Viola, Cello & Guitar
Commissioned (1840-1850?) by guitarist, the Marquis Benavente
First published edition by guitarist Heinrich Albert 1870 - 1950 from the Original score
The Guitar edition in this recording is revised by B. Tomingas in 2013
1) Allegro Maestoso
2) Pastorale
3) Grave Assai & Fandango
Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini
Born: February 19, 1743, Lucca, Italy
Died: May 28, 1805, Madrid, Spain
Byron Paul Tomingas, Guitar:
ByronsGuitar.com
/ musicbytomingas
Facebook search @ByronsGuitar
Byron has a degree in Classic Guitar Performance from CalArts with graduate studies
Byron plays an Oribe Guitar; OribeGuitars.com
The sound recording is by the Tomingas String Ensemble in 2014 at the Birdhouse studio
Photos' and video clips are from other, later live performances with the Jackson Hole Symphony and the String Lake Quartet
All photos and videos by B. Tomingas in Jackson Hole except the public domain photos of Boccherini nd his manuscripts.
Guitar Edition by B. Tomingas based on the original H. Allbrect version which used Boccherini's original manuscript. Major differences are; Byron utilized the common sixth to D and filled harmonies plus using Flamenco percussive and stylistic treatments to emphasize the Spanish Gypsy flare. The "solo" in the Fandango is by B. Tomingas, as is the small interlude in the slow movement.