Die schöne Müllerin and Arpeggione Sonata

…Creating a splendid version which concerning transparency, warmth and color wealth, exceeds a lot of versions for the piano.

Die schöne Müllerin in concert

Due to the large range of the two different guitars, Olga Franssen’s arrangement of Die schöne Müllerin for guitar and fifth bass (baritone) guitar, remains close to Schubert’s original. The song cycle consists of twenty songs. The performance of the complete Müllerin covers a full concert with intermission. The song cycle based on poems by Johann Müller (1794 – 1827) is telling the story of the young apprentice who falls in love with the millers daughter who flirts with the hunter. The naive, disappointed youngster seeks and finds comfort with the brook, his best friend and final destiny. Maarten Koningsberger, Olga Franssen and I performed the song cycle countless times in concert. On stages in the Netherlands, Greece, Indonesia, South Africa, Denmark and China.

In 2003 we recorded die schöne Müllerin and included a bonus : Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata performed on two guitars. The arpeggione, also known as the bowed guitar, violoncello guitar or guitar d’amour, was a stringed instrument with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, tuned like those of a classical guitar. The first arpeggione was made in 1823, by Johann Georg Stauffer in Vienna, and was only played for about ten years. Although the Arpeggione Sonata has been co-opted by cellists for as long as they have known of its existence – an ad-lib cello part appeared in the very first edition in 1871 – it is perfectly suited for the guitar as well.

critical acclaim

…Instead of the usual piano accompaniment, here is a guitar duo, with fabulous results … the three musicians are magnificent … they embody the delicate nuances of the true song interpreter.  Klassieke Klanke

…The timing is excellent. It appears as though only one instrument is playing and even as if Koningsberger is playing it himself. So flexibly does the voice adapt to the strings and visa versa. De  Volkskrant

…After the final song, while the audience tries to come to terms with the tragic fate of the young miller, you could hear a pin drop. Tubantia.