Delos Diary

Hello again! Yes, we're still here at Delos International, working like Santa's helpers, trying to survive the rigors of the autumnal political season, to make sure that classical music fans will have some fascinating new recordings to listen to and hopefully buy in the very near future.
One long awaited project involves a new CD featuring Paul Galbraith, our distinguished 8-string guitarist. His previous releases of Bach, Haydn and folk song transcriptions, plus his light-hearted collaborations with the Brazilian Guitar Quartet, have all been Delos bestsellers and have helped build Paul's international fan following, whose members wait impatiently for every new Galbraith release.
Even ordinary music lovers and concertgoers are intrigued by Paul's 8-string guitar and the unique way he plays it (in cello position) with its long spike inserted in his custom-designed acoustical enhancement box, which nests between his feet.
On his new recording, Galbraith is devoting himself to what he calls music of the French Impressionists school, principally Debussy and Ravel. Transcribing these pieces from their origins as piano solos, so that they retain their special qualities on the 8-string guitar, is no mean feat. Paul has been laboring over just the right notes and fingering and the endless chore of bringing the interpretation of these pieces close to perfection by repeated performances for at least two years.
We were lucky enough to hear a live recital Paul gave in Dabney Lounge at Cal Tech on Sunday afternoon, October 3rd, before an overflow crowd. For his program he played virtually the same pieces slated for the new recording.
The audience sat in rapt attention and seemed mesmerized by the music. Much applause and stand ovations!
A few days later Paul began recording this very same music for Delos. All reports from Delos producers and engineers point to outstanding results.
Just wait till you hear Paul's Golliwog's cake walk and the enchanting final movement from Ma Mere l'Oye (The Mother Goose Suite). The French title of this piece — Le jardin fèerique — just begins to describe the wonderful uplift Paul achieves simply by using his few fingers and his ever-amazing instrument.