Eugenio Catina
Da Vinci Edition : 9 pages
Eugenio Catina is an Italian Guitarist/Composer who has had many works published and performed and here we find his solo work, subtitled The Village of Seven Faces and intended for a guitar tuned slightly unusually with a 6th string to a low C, 5th to G, 4th to D, 3rd to A, 2 to B and 1 to E, and so with three strings not tuned normally the piece will be tricky to read for a time until the player gets used to it.
It begins Adagio, dilatato, with the main idea consisting of long notes/chords atop a very fast rumbling set of demi – semi - quavers and with a modern feel to most of the harmonies. After quite a lengthy time, the demi – semi – quavers move to the treble where a complex tremolo effect takes over. Some long held chords then take the player to the second section marked Moderato, affettuoso where three voices intermingle the middle voice being a repeating A , open third string deliberately off – beat rhythmically, whilst the other two voices continue around it , gradually picking up until the treble line is very chordal and full of constantly moving three note chords. This is the final section of the piece, and it reaches a climax before suddenly dying away, and closing on a long – held chord of C, G, F and C.
The music is modern but not too much so, but the unusual tuning might just put some players off from trying it out, which would be a shame as the writing is very original and yet not atonal, and so is friendly in a modern fashion.
Chris Dumigan
Comments