Atanas Ourouzounov
Doberman – Yppan: 15 pages
Bulgarian born Ourkouzounov has written over 80 works now for guitar, either r solo or in many other combinations, and his work is internationally recognized and performed and his music appears on more than 50 recordings to date.
This latest work is set in 7 short movements ( it plays for just over 15 minutes) and although there is no preface with any explanation, I gather that this work’s title is based on various motifs or music idea that one associates with Giuliani.
As with all the pieces from this composer that I have seen , the writing is ultra – modern, never has a relationship with any keys, is littered with accidentals in every bar, most of which have a different time signature from the bar before, as well as having (often) multiple voices that are in themselves very syncopated.
As a result, this music is usually very difficult to play. Take the opening 144 crotchets a minute 32 bar Allegro Malicioso. In the course of the one page it has time signatures of 7/8, 4/8, 5/8, and 9/8, is set in two constantly moving and changing voices full of syncopated rhythms, using a large amount of accidentals along the way and with many unusually voiced motifs and themes that have a tendency here to rock backwards and forwards over a short space.
The second movement that is a Capriccioso, poco rubato, is written mostly in semi – quavers that spend much of the time rising or falling in waves of 4/16, 5/16, 6/16, and 7/16. With 40 bars, again full of all manner of accidentals that defy any key structure.
The rest of the movements, No3, an 11/16 Capriccioso, No4 a Poco Rubato mixture of 3/8 and 7/16, No5 marked Ossesivo and set wholly in 3/4, No6 a fast and relentless piece of(mostly) 2/4 written almost completely m in triplet semi – quavers, and the final No7, a Grazioso with no less than 5 speed changes in 36 bars, all have the same characteristics mentioned previously.
I think, in spite of all the compliments this man’s writing gets , that his music is exceedingly difficult to get to know because any themes are almost unrecognizable in their complexity, and are moreover so full of what I consider to be atonal passages that this style of writing can’t be to everyone’s taste. However if it is , and there do indeed appear to be many people who love this man’s writing and performing of his works, (just look at some of his comments on YouTube, for example)then if you are a very talented player, this could be something you will enjoy getting your hands around.
Chris Dumigan
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