New guitar music from the United Kingdom.
Historically, Julian Bream and John Williams were the most important classical guitarists from the United Kingdom. Especially Julian Bream has inspired many contemporary classical composers to write guitar parts.
Still, a lot is written for classical guitar and in the episode, we’ll feature pieces from the United Kingdom from the last two decades.
Classical guitar is an instrument one has to play before one can write a good musical piece for it. That is a reason that many composers don’t write guitar parts. Yet, Dutch guitar player Tom Kerstens had influential composers Joby Talbot and Max Richter write pieces for his ‘Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble’ consisting of guitar, strings, and percussion.
We’ll also feature British guitar player Gary Ryan, who experimented with percussive sounds and scordatura tunings on guitar. His music is accessible, tonal, it works well for audiences, but it still sounds surprising.
Finally, we’ll listen to music by British composer Peter Hope, who earned his stripes by writing music for the BBC and arranging film music. However, for the last couple of years, he has focused more on music for the concert hall, like his neo-classical Divertimento from 2001 for guitar and string trio.
Playlist:
- Gary Ryan. Generator (2003/2005). Gary Ryan, guitar on “Visions and Vistas” – KHL Artists, KHL 001 UK.
- Peter Hope. Divertimento (2001). Craig Ogden, guitar and the Manchester Camerata Ensemble on “Songs and Chamber Music” – Dutton Laboratories, CDLX 7192.
- Gary Ryan. Junglescape (2004). Gary Ryan, guitar on “Visions and Vistas” – KHL Artists, KHL 001 UK.
- John Metcalfe. Silent Westway. Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble on “Utopia” – Real World, CDRW 175.
- John Metcalfe. Ochre Orange Freeway. Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble on “Utopia” – Real World, CDRW 175.
- John Metcalfe. As She Fell. Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble on “Utopia” – Real World, CDRW 175.
- Gary Ryan. Dreams, Rest and Motion (2006). Gary Ryan, guitar on “Visions and Vistas” – KHL Artists, KHL 001 UK.
- Joby Talbot. Cyanide. Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble on “Utopia” – Real World, CDRW 175.
- Joby Talbot. First Day of Summer. Tom Kerstens’ G Plus Ensemble on “Utopia” – Real World, CDRW 175.
- Gary Ryan. Out of Clonmel (2007). Gary Ryan, guitar on “Visions and Vistas” – KHL Artists, KHL 001 UK.
