Michael Walker

Partitas for Mandora - Volume 2 Arranged For Guitar Michael Walker

Here are delightful partitas originally composed for the mandora or gallichone. The Mandora or Gallichone generally refers to a bass lute from the 1700s, with a vibrating string length of 72 centimeters or greater, used in Germany and Bohemia. It could be either single- or double-strung. The mandora often had only 6 courses, resulting in a simpler technique than the complex and difficult 13-course lute which was popular during the Baroque Era, so was more suitable for amateur players. Similar instruments were also in use in northern Italy. The Partitas for Madora included here had between four and nine parts in each, often beginning with an Aria or an "Entrée". Other parts of the Partita might be an Allegro, Andante, Menuet, Rigaudon, Scherzo and Gigue. Some of the pieces that follow are approachable to the beginning or intermediate performer, others will push the player to the limits of his technique.