Pastiches
MicroFest, 2024
9/10
The Grammy award winning guitarist John Schneider is joined by Matthew Cook and Gloria Cheng for these pieces penned by masters of the art, where the notion of classical guitar is manipulated in Schneider’s very capable hands.
“Preludio In E”, by Manuel Ponce, opens with the intricate guitar playing that unfolds with much warmth that’s quite captivating, and “Alonso Mudarra’s “Fantasia X” follows with strong emphasis on tonality, where the melodic gestures unfold with grace and spirit.
Further along, “3 Renaissance Micropieces” focuses much on mood via the meticulous playing of the Dusan Bogdanovic original, while “Two Sonatas, Usul, Three Jahlas” spotlights Cheng’s eloquent harpsichord playing amid the radiant guitar via Lou Harrison’s vision.
Nearing the end, the soft and intimate “Come Heavy Sleep” is quite soothing thanks to Schneider’s cozy playing that illuminates the John Dowland selection, and the fuller exit, “Preludio In E (Duo)”, allows for Cheng’s harpsichord to flow amid the precise guitar playing.
A highly refined effort that spotlights Schneider’s microtonal guitar prowess, every piece here is executed with much thought, incredible detail and a profound timelessness.
Travels well with: Sharon Isbin- Live In Aspen; Skylark- Clear Voices In The Dark