Album Notes

"A delightful recording of rare tone
colors and repertoire..." - ClassiQuest

Organ builder and organist Mark Roark (ROE-ark)
Chartier (Shar-tee-AY) and classical guitarist John Waldo blend the flute-like tone of the positive organ with the plucked strings of the classical guitar, creating an effect which is "Positively Beautiful". This perfectly balanced pure acoustic CD includes works by Granados, Giuliani, Sanz, Handel, Sor, Tárrega, Beethoven and others presented with brief and lucid program notes in an attractive six panel digipak.

"Positively Beautiful" began with an impromptu visit by John Waldo to the Mark Roark Chartier workshop to view an 1822 flute-playing clock under restoration. The two performers sat down in the confines of the workshop to play through some early duets scored for recorder and guitar. With Mr. Chartier at the positive organ he had recently built and Mr. Waldo playing the guitar, it was immediately apparent that a truly sublime combination had been found. Since then, the primary emphasis of the duo has been to showcase the exquisite voicing of the ensemble. Their album presents the very best renditions of their arrangements for these exceptional instruments, creating an effect which is... "Positively Beautiful".

Mark Roark Chartier is both instrument builder and performer. He holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of California where he was active in the early music ensembles. He spent ten years in Spain and Poland restoring historic pipe organs and giving concerts of early music. In addition to the positive organ used on this recording, Mr. Chartier has built numerous other instruments including harpsichords, clavichords, a psaltery and did the complete restoration of an early nineteenth-century flute-playing clock. A positive organ derives its name from the ability to move, or posit it. Mr. Chartier is also the composer of several of the works on "Positively Beautiful".

Classical Guitarist John Waldo has been heard with the Springfield Symphony on public radio of the Ozarks. He has soloed with the Stanton Strings and the Trinity Recorder Consort. Mr. Waldo has been featured on network affiliated television and has performed live "In the Spotlight" on Wisconsin Public Radio. He has performed with the Mid-America Singers and has appeared for repeat performances as featured guest artist with the Children's Choir of Southwest Missouri. On this recording Mr. Waldo plays a guitar built by Manouk Papazian. He can be heard on his solo release, "The Glorious Guitar," as well as the recent release of Andrew Charlton's "Partita Concerto," in addition to "Positively Beautiful".

"I do love your CD & we are featuring it..., very easy to listen to..., it rewards careful listening very well."
- WQUB Radio, Quincy, Illinois