Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968
Front cover art for Return to the Dance

Return to the Dance

Guitarist-composer Michelle Nelson presents original guitar works that reclaim the long bond between guitars and dance, from Spanish Baroque reflections through 1970s rock colour to contemporary EDM influence.

  • CatalogueMCD 531
  • Released1 Dec 2015
  • Playing time40 minutes 54 seconds

Listen & tracks

2 of 18 tracks have a preview · 7 works · 40:54

  1. Return to the DanceMichelle Nelson 3 movements6:12
    1. 1 i. Danza 2:44
    2. 2 ii. Minuet 1:44
    3. 3 iii. Return 1:44
  2. The Guitarist’s Bach: Hommage à J.S. BachMichelle Nelson 5 movements9:35
    1. 4 i. Prelude 3:06
    2. 5 ii. Courante 1:39
    3. 6 iii. Sarabande 1:46
    4. 7 iv. Bourrée 1:02
    5. 8 v. Gigue 2:02
  3. Ice CrystalsMichelle Nelson 5 movements10:53
    1. 9 i. 2:02
    2. 10 ii. 1:32
    3. 11 iii. 2:39
    4. 12 iv. 1:54
    5. 13 v. 2:46
  4. 14 Platypus Rag Michelle Nelson 1:49
  5. Dances for the New WorldMichelle Nelson 2 movements4:43
    1. 15 New Volta 2:40
    2. 16 Rock ’n Rolan: Hommage à Marc Bolan 2:03
  6. 17 Mirage Michelle Nelson 3:06
  7. 18 Return to the Dance IV Michelle Nelson 4:36

The programme includes the award-winning The Guitarist’s Bach, a homage to JS Bach in the style of his lute suites, written for the modern EADGBE guitar.

Homages and original pieces move from a Spanish Baroque-inspired opening through the five-movement Ice Crystals and a guitar-and-taropatch rag to rock and trance-dance treatments of the title idea.

In the artist’s words

Guitars and dance go together like two sides of a coin; from the Spanish guitarists of old to the Rock era and on to the Pop world of the 21st Century. As a guitarist I have innately understood this connection. As a composer I have often mused on how modern art-music strayed so far from mainstream taste during the 20th Century. Perhaps the best way for it to re-connect in the new digital world is by a return to the dance.

Reviews

This is a short (41 minutes) disc consisting of some homages, pastiches, imitations, take-offs – apply whichever term you like – and several original compositions. Melbourne guitarist Michelle Nelson has constructed and recorded a set of six works (well, five: the first and last tracks employ the same material in different guises) that are intended to link the old and the new as well as bring art-music back into the popular domain...Yes, you found plenty of easy listening in this album, which is at its most appealing in the Ice Crystals tracks.

Artists

Photograph of Michelle Nelson

Michelle Nelson

guitar

Michelle Nelson is a composer, guitarist and creative educator committed to developing instrumental works that are contemporary in voice yet draw on traditional composition practice.

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$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Stream now

Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

Technical credits

  • Recording Engineer Richie Brain (track 18)
    Vaughan McAlley

Details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
40 minutes 54 seconds
Release date
Category
Classical
Musical work copyright
© 2015 Michelle Nelson
Sound recording copyright
℗ 2015 Move Records
Catalogue
MCD 531
EAN
9314574053128

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