Spring in his step Diabelli entertains, with BASIL RAMSEY ASV    CD QS 6248

Beethoven perpetuated the name of Diabelli, a minor composer born near Salzburg of Italian extraction, by composing his remarkable 33 Variations on a waltz of Diabelli. Nonetheless, he was an excellent musician and a shrewd music publisher. His own music also indicates a creator with a flair for the unexpected which, in part, is evident in these Serenades. The chosen instruments -- flute, clarinet, and guitar -- create a trio of clear textures delineated by the tone colours. Diabelli's naturalness as a composer enables him to provide endless gradations of colour and density. The music gains a spring in its step from this vitality, and thereby becomes a pleasure to play and hear.