Classical Guitar Duo: [R]Evolution Proposal

Focus (10:00) Harry Stafylakis (b. 1982)

Jongo (5:30) Paulo Bellinati (b. 1950)
Divertimento (3:30) Andrés Segovia (1893–1987)

As an instrument thriving on the periphery in the world of classical music, classical guitar
can never afford to be complacent. Performers and composers must constantly view the current
and upcoming musical landscape through a lens of innovation and ferocious creativity. The
proposed program features works that rely heavily on moments of shift as vehicles for
expression.
Focus is a fusion of two historically distinct musical lineages: classical music and
progressive metal. The technical demands and rhythmic complexity of the latter is highly
attractive to guitarists and often an important part of their musical identity. Stafylakis is no
exception, finding his compositional voice as a metal songwriter before evolving his style and
becoming an accomplished composer in classical music circles. Set in two movements, the piece
begins with Radial Glare sitting on the metal end of the spectrum. It is an extroverted display
and relentless with myriad classical and electric guitar idioms. The second, Inward Gaze is a
conscious shift to highlight the delicate and colourful qualities of the nylon-string guitar. Now in
the classical domain, the movement draws its theme from Beethoven’s beautiful allegretto found
in his Seventh Symphony.
Paulo Bellinati knows the secret for getting oil and water to mix as he fuses Brazilian
dances and classical guitar to make his bid as a revolutionary composer. Jongo is an international
award winning piece that evolved from a jazz band number. Requested by a close friend,
Bellinati arranged the work as a classical guitar solo, and eventually a classical guitar duo
dedicated to the titan Assad Duo. Based on the Brazilian dance of the same name, Jongo is a
fiery showpiece in which duple and triple rhythms engage in a spirited dialogue. Stark contrast
begins in the final third of the piece when a rising sonorous passage immediately evolves into an
improvised percussion section. The performers engage in a conversation using all parts of the
guitar to make different sounds – all while maintaining the jongo style.
Finally there is Andrés Segovia. Respected as the ultimate figure of revolution for guitar,
Segovia dedicated his life to single mindedly saving the instrument from stagnation and only
wished to show the beauty of classical guitar on the concert stage. Countless commissioned
works and hundreds of arrangements later, the maestro was forced to cut his last concert tour
short at the age of 94. Segovia’s dedication to the guitar will never be questioned. Divertimento
is an anomaly and represents an interesting shift, as it is the only guitar duo written by Segovia
and is published as the third movement a short suite dedicated to his friends, in which the first
two movements read as guitar solos.
This selection of music truly conveys our passion for guitar. From the visceral energy in
Focus, the smiles that go across the faces in the audience when Jongo’s percussion section kicks
in, to the lilting beauty of Divertimento, we would be honoured to share this program.