Variaciones Sudamericanas sobre un studio de Fernando Sor
Sergio Assad
Doberman – Yppan : 16 pages
Reviewed November 15th 2017
This famous study by Sor (op 35 No17) is has an easy flow, beautiful harmonies and an effortless musicality. This eight minute piece is in the form of the theme, quoted in its entirety and five subsequent variations.
As usual with Assad, this is a masterwork in every way, very playable, utterly musical but absolutely not for the faint of heart as it is of considerable difficulty. The first variation is a Malambo marked energico and in the same Bm key as the theme. It is full of dynamic contrasts, flying across the whole of the fingerboard in 6/8 with many cross rhythms in the bass line The Valsa Brasiliera that follows is a slightly slower pace but none the easier for it. There is a constant flow of two- part writing , with many pull offs and hammer -ons across the entire fingerboard and a tendency for the melody line to leap around in a most effective way. The third variation is a Vals Venezoelano of considerable speed , with friendly harmonies and again a two – voiced movement .The fourth is a Cancion which , although marked slow and sad requires almost more virtuosity than the foregoing , with artificial harmonics , unusually voiced chords and frenetic runs. The final Candombe has cross – rhythms and is exciting with a convincing coda.
This is another top – notch piece from this wonderful writer / performer.
Chris Dumigan
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