Delivered today by post, a copy of Jon Lord’s studio version of the Concerto for Group and Orchestra.
Unfortunately, this album is the final chapter in the life of Jon Lord, an outstanding musician. A man with a personality that inspired many and loved by many. His sudden death last July was a devastating, a big shock.
A bright beautiful star has faded away from our lives. Jon Lord will be forever missed.
The Concerto for Group and Orchestra originally performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold at the Royal Albert Hall on September 1969 with Deep Purple MKII. Some say that this life performance took place shortly after bringing Gillan and Glover into the band, even before recording their first album In Rock.
After the show part of the original score went missing. That was in the early 1970's. Until the late 1990’s when Dutch composer, Marco de Goeij wrote a transcription of the Concerto, by listening to the original album, and from watching the video tape of the live performance. He met Jon Lord later and presented the score to him. Celebrating the 30th anniversary Deep Purple began the “Concerto Tour” in different countries with special guests, such as the late Ronnie James Dio, Ian Anderson, Steve Moors and others. Again the show at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1999 was filmed and released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray.
I was there on 30 October 2000 at the Rotterdam Ahoy, The Netherlands when the Concerto was played in its entirety. Jon Lord introduced the band before starting the music, and he also brought Dutch composer, Marco de Goeij on stage to thank him for his immense effort in bringing the Concerto to live again. It was a show that I will never forget as long as I live.
Jon Lord left Deep Purple in 2002 and put his time mainly around composing classical music. Not until a couple of years ago when he decided to record the Concerto for Group and Orchestra in studio.
This version of the Concerto is performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by the great Paul Mann – the same conductor of the 30th anniversary shows. No current or previous members of Deep Purple are involved in this project, except for guitar master Steve Morse. It was Mr. Lord’s decision to have different musicians on the album this time, to have different personalities and musical background and not put the focus on a single band, according to the liner notes of the album.
The Concerto consists of three movements:
1. Moderato - Allegro (16.20 minutes).
2. Andante (19:34 minutes).
3. Vivace - Presto (10:48 minutes).
The sessions were recorded in Liverpool, London and Sofia, but the final mixing was done by Andrew Dudman at Abbey Road Studios in London.
When I read earlier this year about Jon Lord's taking the Concerto into the studio, first thing I was wondering about was how on earth are they going to make the entrance of the "rock band" this time? I am referring to the 6 plus minutes of the the first movement, Moderato, because it is the most crucial spot in the whole score, in my opinion. This is by far the moment when rock music aggressively suppose to clash with classical music! This suppose to be the first contact, the first impact. Those who have seen the 1969 performance remember when Ritchie Blackmore launched that heavy-artillery attack with a guitar solo that left Sir Malcolm Arnold and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra dazzling in a swirl. On the 30th anniversary version, Steve Morse took matters differently by showing the audience a premier in musical punctuality with a masterful sensational solo.
Both guitarists managed to take breath away with their magical guitar playing. Thus, I was asking myself if the new recording will have a new or similar magic! The answer is a big yes!
I never heard of him, neither heard his playing before, but Darin Vasilev's fret shredding and finger tapping solos on the first movement of the Concerto is just jaw-dropping.
It was not only the guitar playing here, there is something else added to this guitar mayhem at that “entrance” of rock to the world of classical music: it is Brett Morgan on drums!! wow
Lost count how many times I replayed that part of the first movement just to listen to the way Brett Morgan played drums.
The second movement, Andante, is what many call it the event when a “truce between rock and classical music is taking place”. On this movement we have the singing part which Ian Gillan wrote the lyrics one or two days before the event back in 1969. On this version the singing is divided among three perfect vocalists: both Kasia Laska and Steve Balsamo delivered fine singing lines and exchanged harmonies on the first part, while Iron Maiden’s legendary Bruce Dickinson sang magnificently the remaining parts.
Joe Bonamassa choice to play guitar on Andante was the spot on. In addition, I loved Bonamassa's way of complimenting Dickinson singing through his solos, and use of power chords in the background.
On the first and second movement of the concerto you can sense very little changes to the composition of original score. Basically, the score is based on the 1999 version, but the third movement, Vivace - Presto, is where I felt personally where most of the changes were made to the score. These changes definitely added glory to the overall score.
And I am so glad to hear Steve Morse putting his wizard touch again.
The third movement is shorter than the previous versions. For example, they shortened the drum solo in the middle prior to the 6/8 tempo. However, I felt that the third movement on this record is the most accurate and "clean" version of the Concerto.
The CD has a 20 page booklet with pictures from the recording sessions, and liner notes by Paul Mann and Jon Lord's family. Beautiful and warm words, all paying tribute to a giant in music history. It is sad as well as a relief to know that Jon Lord himself listened to the final mix of the record couple of weeks before his death. The same thing regarding the cover art and the design of the CD.
Jon Lord will be missed among us, but his music, all his music will remain forever in the minds and hearts of his fans. The proof is the attempt by fans to include Jon Lord's music into the BBC Proms earlier this year.
Rest in peace, Jon Lord.
Below is a video fragment from the recording sessions of the Concerto for Group and Orchestra
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