Villageoise byJohn DUARTE(1919-2004) from PETITE SUITE FRANÇAISE;I commissioned the great composer in 1974: the purpose was to enrich our guitar repertoire with French music. « Villageoise » is the first movement, both elegant and facetious.
Le Trouvère et la Douce Dame Jolieby John DUARTE from PETITE SUITE FRANÇAISE;This second movement is a courtly love story: A troubadour plays chords on his guiterne while getting close to a balcony where a douce dame jolie stands expectantly. Seeing him approaching, she sings in a major mode. They then sing together and get into a dance, accompanied by a tambourine. They then bow to each other. The troubadour plays two interrogative chords, but gets no reply. Worried, he plays the chords again. The douce dame jolie replies with a song, in a minor mode, this time. Dismayed, the troubadour moves away, playing sad chords…
La Rondetteby John DUARTE from PETITE SUITE FRANÇAISE; Last movement; a witty round dance, both elegant and lively, in the Renaissance style.
Boléro, by Maurice Ravel (arr. Peter Kraus);a bold transcription of the celebrated work.
RagtimebyPierre LERICH(1937-2008): this was a great present from the author for my birthday in 1993.
La Chasse, byMauro GIULIANI(1781-1829):An accurate depiction of a hunting session, with hornets, the pack of staghounds, the poor doe, the village dance, the mort….
African Dance, by Charles CAMILLERI (1931-2009) :this composer from Malta masters both the African and the European cultures..
Etude, byMatteo CARCASSI: (1792-1853) A delicious moment, far from the madding word..
Variations on a French folk song ‘J’ai du bon tabac’byMario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO(1895-1968):: In the 30s, a musical critic in Geneva wrote that, even if Segovia performed « J’ai du bon tabac », it would be superb anyhow. The great Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco took the challenge. His experience was that snuff meant sneeze…
J’ai du bon tabac,(fugue) byMario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: This is the final fugue of this extraordinary suite.
SakurabyYuquijiro YOCOH(1925-2009) : very refined variations on the popular Japanese folk song
Moorish Dance byEsteban de Sanlúcar (1910-1989): Based on Andalucian traditional music — the origin of Flamenco — here is my rendition of the original composition.
Zulquei Walzby José OLIVEIRA QUEIROZ (1910-1968):: A sensual composition by Brazilian composer Jose Olivera Queiroz who dedicated the work to his wife Zulmira (hence the title: ZULmira QUEIroz).
Andante Armonioso‘à la Bellini’ (anonymous): this manuscript was apparently found in an attic. To me, a major work, a sweet heartbreaker. But who was this mysterious Pezzoli who signed the arrangement? And where did he find such a glorious theme?Merci to the Guitar Foundation of America
Sonata for Guitar and WordsbyJP JUMEZ (1943-): the sound of words associated to the meaning of notes [Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez is used in the first poetry]