Charming Guitar Backdrops

Released this past spring to streaming services, guitarist David Leisner's Charms to Soothe provides a relaxed collection of engaging 19th-Century works for his instrument. The album was produced for Azica records and is available on streaming platforms.

Guitar music aficionados will recognize some of the names here. There are some etudes by Fernando Sor (1778-1839): Op. 6/11 and Op. 31/23; as well as a reading of Mauro Giuliani's (1781-1829) of four pieces from Giulianate, Op. 148 (nos. 1, 4, 6, and 7, respectively). Three short pieces by Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856) provide beautiful examples of new romantic styles entering into the repertoire for the instrument. There are also a couple of etudes from Giulio Regondi (1822-1873) which give another perspective on musical advances for the instrument in the period. Three etudes by the mostly unknown Leonard Schulz (1814-1860) round off the recital.

Leisner is an accomplished guitarist and his nuanced performances here provide for a fine hours worth of listening that is worth adding to your online playlists. It is all great background music on one level with its unassuming melodies and accessible harmonic writing.