Program Notes

As my recital features pieces with beautiful melodies I couldn’t resist starting with two of the most endearing lyrical pieces from Villa-Lobos.

Marieta (Mazurka)
Maria (Gavotta)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra

The 1st 3 pieces are all lady pieces and since I'm a lady I thought it would be appropriate to play them! I perform the Recuerdos because this is the piece that got my to play classical guitar.  My mother used to practice this all the time back when I was 2 yrs old and once I picked the guitar up at the age of 3 and a 1/2, I knew that one day I would perform it.

Scherzino Maya
Intermezzo
Scherzino
Scherzino Mexicano

With Randy Reed, guitar

Randy and I so enjoyed playing duets together at the 2008 Tennessee Guitar Fest so I invited him to add a duet set on this recital. These festive pieces showcase Ponce’s love of his country’s folk music. This set ends with Scherzino Mexicano everyone’s favorite.

Catherine LeGrand, flute and Randy Reed, guitar

Randy writes: This piece is a real treat for guitarists as the guitar is on equal footing with the flute the piece is a real standout amongst Giuliani’s considerable output of ensemble music. (The Duke music library has the complete Giuliani collection and it takes up more then two feet.) Movement 1:Andante Sostenuto is very lyrical. Movement 2 is a very lively (allegro vivace) Menuetto with the very Trio section that was featured in our newsletter last year. Movement 3: a very long and vigorous Rondo militare.

Catherine LeGrand, flute and Randy Reed, guitar

Randy: Take Villa-Lobos and mix with Antonio Carlos Jobim and a dash of Ginastera and you have Gnattali. This first movement (the most assessable) features and modern melody on top of a very modern jazzy accompaniment. Catherine and I will feature the full three movement Sonatina written for guitar and flute in 1963  in upcoming Triangle performances.

Back to Valerie: The composer was inspired by a cafe in Paris, where he was enjoying his time with friends. The cafe is called Another's Fandango.  The tune itself came to him a while ago during a walk in the woods & then he put the tune w/the cafe together

I. Allegro Moderato
II. Chanson
III. Allegro non troppo

I did a research paper during my master's degree on the life of Ponce & his relationship with Segovia.  I wanted to bring this piece back.  I particuarly love the 2nd movement which is very lyrical. All three movements are different. The first movement is impressionistic and modern sounding.  The 2nd movement is lyric and the 3rd movement, which is in rondo form, is festive.

This is a beautiful tremolo piece and legend has it that it was Barrios' last piece.

Roland wrote this piece in celebration of his life. He had survived heart surgery & was inspired to write the Libra Sonatine.  Fuoco, is his his 3rd movement, & means fire.....life.