Collections

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Roland Atelier® AT-90r and KR® Series digital pianos

'Collections' opens on a lively note with Holiday for Strings performed by a quartet of piano, bass, vibes and drums with just a touch of jazz seasoning. I created the drum patterns on the 61000 for final performance on the Atelier.

The old favourite Long Ago and Far Away graced the 1944 film, Cover Girl, and received a nomination for an Academy Award that year. Jerome Kern became the innovator of a new kind of song early in this century and this melody is a fine example of his masterful writing of evergreens. My arrangement was influenced by the sound of the fabulous Boston Pops.

I have always enjoyed playing the music of Cole Porter and my love of his works became even more passionate after hearing and playing the late Robert Docker's impressions of the man and his music in this Cole Porter Medley of some of his greatest songs.

I have always been thrilled by the performances of Chabrier's Rhapsody Espana in which the entire spectrum of orchestral colour and contrast creates an atmosphere of Spanish festivity. This composition was a great opportunity for me to explore the vast palette of instruments available on the Atelier.

Operatic music has enjoyed a major resurgence since the first memorable concert by the Three Tenors' in Rome many years ago. Our 'night at the opera' opens with the haunting Introduction to Act 1 of Verdi's La Traviata and concludes with a performance of probably the most popular and best known of operatic arias, Puccini's Nessun Dorma. I particularly wanted to include these two performances in 'Collections' to introduce you to the newly developed Atelier vocal ensembles.

Who could ever forget the fabulous musicals featuring the inimitable dancing prowess of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers? This medley of great dance tunes arranged by Robert Docker should bring back many happy memories of 'Fred and Ginger dancing their way around the silver screen in classic films such as 'Top Hat' and 'Swing Time:

Ever since I had the privilege of meeting and performing with the late Robert Docker and the Australian Pops Orchestra, I have had profound respect and admiration for Bob's unique musicianship and skilful orchestral arrangements. My impressions on this CD of Bob's treatment of Cole Porter's great melodies and also his medley of the famous dance songs of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are a sincere tribute to a gentleman who is sadly missed.

When I Fall in Love brings another dimension into 'Collections: This is really late night, Lay back listening epitomised by the breathy tenor sax, Lyrical jazz guitar and soft romantic strings.

Fugue a la Gigue, my arrangement of Bach's celebrated Gigue Fugue, originally began as a five guitar transcription I put together for a classical guitar ensemble. It probably would have remained that way had it not been for my wife Nola's inspiration to develop the arrangement further. After first stating the theme, the guitars are complemented by woodwinds and strings. Almost imperceptibly, they are joined by the distant pipes of the grand organ, which ultimately demands supremacy in the majestic conclusion.

The Rach 2 (Allegro Scherzando) is one of my favourite piano concertos, which I have enjoyed playing for many years. This performance is really a self indulgence, which involved countless hours of individual instrument playing on the Roland 6800, 61000 and Atelier, to become a full symphony orchestra, with my solo piano performance played on the Roland digital piano.

I hope the performances I have selected for 'Collections' give you an insight into my passion for creating a kaleidoscope of musical styles and the unlimited palette of orchestral colours available on these musical instruments that I have chosen.

I am indebted to Roland Corporation Australia for the provision of the Atelier AT90R and 61000 Arranger Workstation used in this recording.

Recording engineer: Tony Fenelon; Graphic Design: Peter Allen, FM-ART Services; Production: Nola Fenelon, The Notable Music Company.  Special thanks to Disk-Edits

'One man and his music' is the best way to describe this beautifully arranged and performed collection of music is played by the artist himself. 'Collections' is the combination of the great talent of Tony Fenelon and the incredible versatility of today's contemporary keyboards. Brian Finch, FM-TV Australia.

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