Marcus Holden – Cicadas & Roses

CD Review by John Williams

What do you say about an artist who has appeared in over five hundred recordings and plays all bowed string instruments, mandolin, guitar, banjo, piano, qin, cittern, tenor guitar, dobro, and the musical saw. He also does percussion! I think I hate him!

Marcus is a member of Mic Conway’s National Junk Orchestra, Jugalong String Band and Fiddler’s Feast. He is also the director of the Golden Fiddle Awards.

Obviously Marcus is a musical genius and prepared to share his knowledge and considerable musical ability and make music fun and it shows in this CD.

Marcus has compiled a CD of classical music to which he sometimes adds a personal twist. He is ably supported by Raimondo Fioravanti (guitar), Garry Steel (accordion, piano), Elsen Price (double bass) and Andrew Toner (guitar synthesizer).

I loved the CD from the moment I began listening and it continues to provide further enjoyment the more I listen to it. The opening track ’Berceuse’ by Gabriel Faure is a wonderful violin piece that is just so easy to listen to.

My favorite track was the second one, Handel’s ‘Allegro in F major’.

I am not sure Handel ever expected it to be played in a slightly reggae style but I defy you to listen and not be tapping your feet.

The ‘Dolores Waltz’ is quite a mournful melody that suits Marcus’s viola playing perfectly.

Paganini’s ‘Caprice No 24’ is another catchy tune played to perfection.

Marcus shows his skill on the mandolin in a beautiful rendition of ‘Siciliene’ from the Romantic Period.

This would make a superb backing track to any movie set in a rustic vineyard in Sicily.

Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Song of India’ is given an oriental touch at the beginning.

Once again this track is just beautiful to listen to.

Bach’s ‘Brandenburg Concerto in G Major, 3rd Movement’ was another favorite track.

‘Danse Macabre’ by Saint Saens is again a different type of track with great guitar work.

Elgar’s Salut D’Amor is one of those tracks you would love to listen to sitting in front of an open fire with a glass of your favorite beverage in your hand.

Another track that really intrigued me was ‘Sympathetic Jasper’ which gives the tune a Scott Joplin ragtime treatment. The piano in this is great to listen to.

Grieg’s ‘Anitra’s Dance’ from ‘The Hall of the Mountain King’ suite is another interesting interpretation of a well known piece.

Vivaldi’s ‘Winter from the Four Seasons’ was a wonderful penultimate track, again just so beautifully rendered and such easy listening.

Just to show those old composers that he can do it too, Marcus completes the CD with his own composition ‘To Say Goodbye’. It certainly holds up in that company and is another lovely track to just sit and enjoy.

I can’t recommend this CD highly enough. I wish all young people could hear it as an introduction to classical music. I loved it.