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24 p., Niveau 2-3
Légende
Sieste
Most of the seven pieces in
this volume are impressively sophisticated for what is essentially a book of
grade five (or thereabouts) standard music.
The collection is sandwiched by
two waltzes, opening with Vacances and closing with Manege.
The former is
reminiscent of one of Satie's famous Gymnopedies in style if not overall theme.
It follows a basic ternary structure with a Coda where the A section, which
moves mostly in crotchets, is contrasted by a busier, more chromatic middle part
with some clever use of open strings in the chords. The key is a pleasant G
major.
Manege, in A major, is the lightest (and probably least effective)
work, built on a casual - almost filmic - jazz theme that is far less engaging
than the rest of the selection, and definitely renders this one a background
number!
Legende, the second piece, in A n-Anor, on the page looks like one of
Lauro's simpler works, and indeed the contrapuntal style is fairly reminiscent
of the aforementioned.
The clear melody is supported by a lively
accompaniment line which is always pleasantly obvious in the scheme of things,
and which occasionally assumes greater importance than the top line, creating
variety within a uniform structure.
Other pieces are: Rondes, a study-like
work (not, however, devoid of musical qualities) in compound quadruple time that
moves exclusively in quavers: Sieste, whose dropped D tuning lends extra depth
to an already sonorous, slowmoving piece built around a single repeating
rhythmic figure which utilises some nice campanela effects: Chinoiserie, an
assortment of effects, tempi and style centering around a pagan-like dance
rhythm and Reves, where an F tuning in the bass is used to excellent atmospheric
effect in a piece which, in the first of its three-page duration at least,
contains some lovely harmonic writing, after which a rather less adventurous
melodic figure predominates.
This is an effective, guitaristic collection
with sufficient diversity and musical interest to attract even those of a
standard much higher than that required to perform the pieces.
(Joe McGowan,
Classical Guitar, 12/2000)
