The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten
Emma Rush
Write-up and Liner Notes
Emma Rush has an interesting new album out with a repertoire theme centred around Catharina Pratten. As she mentions, “The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten includes seven previously unrecorded tracks by the Victorian guitar icon, first recordings of works by her father Ferdinand Pelzer, her husband Robert Sidney Pratten, her colleague Leonard Shulz, and her student Frank Mott Harrison, and music by Francisco Tárrega, Giulio Regondi, and Ernest Shand…Pratten was a composer, guitarist, educator, publisher, conductor, and instrument inventor based in London. She was incredibly influential and was the most important guitar figure in Britain in the 19th century…Visit my store for hard copies, bandcamp for digital copies, or stream on all the major platforms!” You can also listen to the album via Spotify.
The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten includes beautiful playing by Rush and repertoire that weaves a story of Pratten’s life, inspirations, and influence on the era. A must listen!
Also check out this video of a work from the album. This comes via Rush’s YouTube channel.
Repertoire
- 1 Daisy by Catharina Josepha Pratten (1824-1895)
- 2 A Lost Love
- 3 Variations sur un Thème Russe by Ferdinand Pelzer (1801 -1860)
- 4 Étude No.1 Allegretto Moderato by Giulio Regondi (1822-1872)
- 5 Absence by Catharina Josepha Pratten
- 6 The Duke of Cambridge’s Grand March by Robert Sidney Pratten (1824-1873)
- 7-8 The Last Compositions of Mr. Leonard Schulz by Leonard Schulz (1814-1860)
- No.8 Cantabile
- No.3 Allegretto a l’Espagnole
- 9 Lágrima Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909)
- 10 Capricho Árabe
- 11 Evening Song by Catharina Josepha Pratten
- 12 Dreaming of Thee
- 13 Coquette
- 14 Le Ruisseau Frank by Mott Harrison (d.1945)
- 15 Danse Capriccio Op. 28 by Ernest Shand (1868-1924)
- 16 Funeral March Op.89
- 17 Lucia di Lammermoor by Catharina Josepha Pratten
Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 1o, 11, 12, 13, and 14 were recorded on a guitar from
the 185os that was likely made in London. The luthier is not known.
It has a handwritten label inside that states: Madame R. Sidney Pratten,
38 Welbeck St., London Cavendish Sq.
