Jean – Marie Raymond
Les Productions D’Oz: Score and separate parts (10, 5, and 5 pages respectively)
This piece was commissioned by Hakuju Hall and Hakuju Institute of Health Science, for the Guitar Festival in Hakuju 2020 from Raymond. As always with his pieces he has produced an emotional and warmly romantic piece written in his most engaging harmonic style for two intermediate players.
It is set in Em, with both guitars using a dropped 6th to D, and has a marking of Moderato Espressivo. Marked ‘Spirito di Milonga’ it begins with a gentle harmonic clashing on the accompaniment before the sad melody makes its entrance. Incidentally the piece is written so that both players get to play both elements of the piece throughout, so there is no one just playing the accompaniment all the way through. Indeed the way it is written there are counter – melodies constantly on both guitars. After the opening ideas, other elements intervene and the piece goes through many emotions , until at bar 64 a Canto D’Amore enters, that changes the pace considerably before a gentle climax brings back the opening ideas for a final but lengthy reprise, at the end of which everything dies gently away.
This is a lovely piece, often sad, in its harmonies, beautifully written by Raymond, and it has already been performed and recorded, a fact that doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Altogether this is a piece that decent duos will adore playing.
Chris Dumigan
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