Modern repertoire for the classical guitar including videos and sheet music articles. From early 20th century composers to contemporary new music.
Miles Johnston (guitar) and Ji Young Kim (flute) perform Mountain Songs by Robert Beaser (b.1954). This comes via Johnston’s YouTube Channel. Nice to hear this excellent set of works by Beaser and well performed too. Some beautiful moments with wonderfully…
Equinox for Guitar by Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996) – One of the 20th Century’s most influential composers, Takemitsu was also a writer on aesthetics and music theory. Known for his subtle attention to timbre, silence, and fusing tradition with innovation. His music has a…
Fantastic! Canadian guitarist Michael Kolk performs the first movement, Allegro moderato from Sonate in a für Guitarre by Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953). Audio and video by Henderson. Beautiful playing as usual from Kolk. I love how directional his phrasing is, he always has a clear destination…
ABOVE – Dave Belcher performs the Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 2, BWV 1008 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). This comes via his Youtube channel (go subscribe). Great playing by Belcher with a rhythmic, yet flowing, delivery of the musical…
Peter Graneis plays Pièce en forme de Passacaille by Alexandre Tansman (1897-1986). This comes via Siccas Guitars and their great YouTube channel. I’ve featured Graneis a few times before and appreciate his musical energy and careful attention to motifs and articulations throughout the compositions he performs. Tansman…
João Luiz plays Fandango from Tres Piezas Españolas by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999). This comes via his YouTube channel. Luiz has posted a number of semi-causal yet virtuosic home performances that I previously featured. Fantastic musicality with sharp articulations and virtuosic figuration and rhythmic drive. His left…
Finnish guitarist Mari Mäntylä plays Orfeo (I.Adagio, II.Allegretto, III.Adagio) by Russian composer Nikita Koshkin (b.1956) on a 10-string guitar (decacorde). This comes via her great YouTube channel. Great playing by Mäntylä with an excellent dynamic range, phrasing, and long form…
Canadian guitarist Michael Kolk performs Sonata para guitarra by Antonio José (1902-1936). This is the first movement, Allegro moderato of the four movement sonata. This comes via his excellent YouTube channel. Audio and video by Henderson. This was José’s only work for guitar,…
Antonio Rugolo performs Studi n.18 – Rosario (Omaggio a Manuel de Falla) from Studi di virtuosità e di trascendenza by Angelo Gilardino (B. 1941). This comes via his YouTube channel. I love Angelo Gilardino‘s Studi di virtuosità e di trascendenza. Although the…
JIJI performs Dynjandi by Gulli Björnsson (b.1991). This comes via her fantastic YouTube channel. I’ve featured JIJI a few times and in every performance I really appreciate her creativity and daring performances of new music commissions. You might have seen her mentioned in the recent article…
Kanahi Yamashita plays Quatre Pièces Brèves by Frank Martin (1890–1974). This comes via her YouTube channel. The four movements are: I. Prelude; II. Air; III. Plainte; IV. Comme une Gigue. Still one of my favourite pieces with a tasteful mix of the serialism of the…
Italian guitarist Lorenzo Micheli plays Rondo, Op.129 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968). This comes via his great YouTube channel with audio and video by Drew Henderson. Fantastic playing as usual from Micheli with a combined clarity, warmth, and virtuosity that is a step above the rest. He…