🎶 Boccherini: La Musica Notturna delle Strade di Madrid (With Drums)

Whilst researching this project, I viewed many performances of period musicians. I noticed how each one became deeply involved — the rhythmic movement of the violin, cello, and viola, their bodies swaying in unity with the music. Their faces, though not always conventionally beautiful, carried character and truth. The eyes of some performers, their body language, and their passionate style inspired me to add a medieval drumbeat to this great work. This was not part of Master and Commander, but rather my own tribute — a shout across centuries to Boccherini, to the great seamen who fought and died in the Napoleonic era, and to the dedicated performers who keep this music alive today. With gratitude to the old master and to the living interpreters of his vision.

This music was also made famous in the 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, set aboard HMS Surprise. In the movie, the music reflects the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey (portrayed by Russell Crowe) and Dr. Stephen Maturin (played by Paul Bettany). However, the film did not include the medieval drumbeats or the realistic background sounds you hear in this special recording, which bring a fresh vitality and atmosphere to the piece.