...his Trois Prières (Three Prayers) show Bartlema to be a thoughtful and
imaginative composer. All three me of a very fragile texture with the
composer making copious use of harmonics (the second “Prayer” is
written almost entirely in this fashion) and utilising one of the
guitar's richest features, the campanella effect of letting notes ring
over and blending in with tile following notes. This effect is never
more apparent than in the final piece where an ostinato bass-like
employing this technique is heard for the majority of the piece with
the sparse melodic line moving above it.
These compositions are of a highly delicate nature and are perhaps
best described to be of a meditative character.
...very enjoyable solos to play through and savour the sounds.
The technical level is of around the grade 5-6 standard and the
presentation is very good, I notice with this edition, the delightful
artistry of Swiss painter Corina Sierk has once more appeared on the
front cover. Excellent.
Steve Marsh - Classical Guitar Magazine UK
Fretboarding
...Fretboarding contains interesting humorous duets that will have a stimulating and
motivating impact on the guitar student
...Bartlema didn't use the beaten track but
uses pleasant thrilling dissonant chords...
Norbert Dams - Gitarre Aktuell Germany
...musically very appealing pieces with the use of every now and then some unconventional means.
This collection is published by Edition Daminus in Germany which contains so much more gems that deserve to become discovered.
Stefan Kuen - EGTA Switzerland
CD The Eagle flies alone
....all has quality and it's wonderfully presented!
Rudolf Nammensma - Leeuwarder courant
CD Vidalita
I really enjoyed this CD, especially for its refreshingly varied and for me at least, largely unknown content. You have no worries as regards the recording quality either, for it is marvellously done. This is a fine CD
Chris Dumigan - Classical Guitar UK
CD Pocket-Music
A diverse and representative collection performed by a first-rate team!
Paul Fowles - Classical Guitar UK
Leading role for this production in particular is the refined playing guitarist Jan Bartlema which is a blessing for the CD, the production and for the listener as well.
