John DUARTE (b. 1919)
Guitar Music
Suite piemontese, Op.46
1. Pastoral
2. Canzone
3. La Danza
Toute en Rondo
4. Ritual Dance
5. Waltz
6. Spring Dance
Musikones, Op.10
7. Terpsichore I
8. Erato
9. Terpsichore II
10. Euterpe
11. Terpsichore III |
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English Suite, Op. 31
12. Prelude
13. Folk-song
14. Round Dance
15. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song, Op.25
Birds, Op.66
16. Swallows
17. The Swan
18. Sparrows |
Homage to Antonio Lauro, Three Waltzes
19. I. Moderato, con grazia
20. II. Andante espressivo
21. III. Rondo
Sonatinette, Op.35
22. Con Anima
23. Con Delicatezza
24. Vivo |
 Antigoni Goni
- Guitar
NAXOS 8.554554
[72:26]
Crotchet
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recommendations |
In recent years there have been a number of discs made up entirely of music
for guitar by British composers, but rarely one that utilises the work of
just one. (Hear also "Neil Smith plays John W Duarte" Guitar Masters GMR
1006 LP)
John Duarte came to my attention when I bought what was then my first classical
guitar record (Andres Segovia's "Il Supremo" MCA MUCS 107) that was some
time in 1968. The programme for the most part was made up of mainly Baroque
music Bach, Scarlatti, Handel and Purcell. So as you can imagine a work like
Duarte's "English Suite" stood out simply because it was so different. Since
then John Duarte's reputation as one of the foremost scholars of the guitar
whose knowledge of the instrument, its music and players is assured. Added
to this he is one of the finest composers for the guitar to emerge in the
20th century and most likely to continue into the next, anywhere
in the world.
This release by Naxos shows the breadth of John Duarte's musical insights
and influences. It is very much a disc of shifting moods and atmospheres.
He takes us on an excursion into landscapes as diverse as Italy "Suite
piemontese" Op.46 (is that a hint of Debussy's "Arabesque No.1 in there?);
the myths of Greece tinged with tones of the Moorish Ud and Venezuela with
"Homage to Antonio Lauro", Lauro being known for his guitar miniatures in
waltz time. The composer gives us a view of the natural world with his
observations of the characteristics and behaviour of swallows, the swan and
sparrows in "Birds" Op.66, all of which are totally convincing.
The fact that John Duarte has written the inlay notes suggests that he must
approve of this recording, and who else better qualified to provide a vista
into these works than the composer himself.
To date this is Antigoni Goni's third recording for the Naxos label, the
first being a recital by various composers, the second an all Agustin Barrios
programme. Now with this disc she shows herself to be a player comfortable
with the wide range of nuances that this music provides and although slight
finger noises are present no way does this diminish the enjoyment.
The music on this disc should be enjoyed by most people, not only guitar
aficionados.
Andy Daly
