Vittorio Monti arr. Srdjan Grujicic
Les Productions D’Oz: Score and separate parts (8, 4, and 4 pages respectively)
This is of course an extremely famous piece of music that most professional violinists have had a go at at some time or another, and here is Srdjan Grujicic’s version for violin and guitar. This Franco – Serbian guitarist has had his hands into several different styles of music not just classical, and so was an ideal person for Thibault Cauvin to pick to do this arrangement, as he said that like it to be somehow different, and new, not just classical in style.
And he has really succeeded here for there are many places where this music crosses the stylistic borders, but be warned! If you do know this piece, you will be aware that this is an extremely difficult piece to play, and that both of the players need to be excellent technicians!
The opening is of course a Largo where both players get the chance to really show off their skills before the piece takes off at bar 21. So, although the guitar often plays an accompaniment part in this piece, they are often required to duck and dive around the fingerboard in an extremely virtuosic fashion, and so even at the opening Largo there are no really slow sections, but many places where the guitar’s part (and of course the violin’s) is difficult in the extreme. This however is small fry compared to the Allegro Ma Non troppo that takes over at bar 21, for here the melody truly begins and although the guitar starts just playing bass/chord patterns, it is soon playing the melody in the shape of very swift semi – quaver patterns with the violin playing the bass/ chord accompaniment. Later on there are some percussive moments and even some note bends on the violin, and even an improvised section for the violin that the arranger says can be used or not, depending on their opinion of it. Then of course the piece continues on its relentless way, right to the very end where everything finishes with an unexpected final bar.
This is a wonderful piece that will really test the duo who attempt to play it, but it goes without saying that if they are up to it, then any audience will absolutely love hearing it performed.
Chris Dumigan
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