Carnaval de Venise Op.184

The Venetian popular song “O, Mamma, mamma cara” has been a source of fascination to generations of musicians. Many composers, from Paganini to Ronald Binge, have written variations or rhapsodies or fantasies on it, usually under the title Carnaval de Venise or Venetian Carnival. One of the most delightful, although it is little known outside the harp world, is by the Belgian harpist Félix Godefroid who wrote volumes of virtuoso music for the instrument. It takes him some time to get round to introducing the famous tune - he hints at it in a teasing introduction but then turns to a different, operatic sort of melody - but when he does he makes the most of it. It is presented in an entertainingly resourceful variety of colours, figurations and melodic and rhythmic diversions. The most brilliant variation is, of course, reserved for the end.