Solo Guitar Recital

Includes recorded audio files in WAV and MP3 formats, 76:61 in length.The following abstract serves to describe the above pieces, their composers, and to support their inclusion in the recital program. Luys de Narvaez was a sixteenth century Spanish vihuelist and composer. He is credited with many firsts in the field of composition and publishing. In 1538 his Los seys libros del delphin was one of the first collections of music to be published in Europe. He is generally credited with being one of the first to use and developed the theme and variations form in his compositions as well as to put tempo indications on his scores. Cancion del Emperador is based on the four-part chanson Mile Regretz by Josquin des Pres. This makes the piece important from a musicological standpoint in that it demonstrates how the instrumental vihuelistas would have set a popular vocal work for solo vihuela. Baxa de Contrapunto is included as a contrasting work in terms of tempo and rhythm. Both of the Narvaez pieces were transcribed from the ancient tablature (cifra) by Emilio Pujol. The prelude, Fugue, and Allegro of J. S. Bach was written in Leipzig in the early to mid-1740s, and was originally written for the lute in E flat major. The prelude is typical in that it is a moto perpetuo-style work where the 12/8 triplet pattern is hardly ever broken. The four-part Fugue demonstrates the contrapuntal possibilities of the guitar and is unique in that, except for the first two measures, the entire exposition is repeated at the end. The brilliant Allegro is also a moto perpetuo-style movement, this time using sixteenth notes in 3/8 where the motion is helped, and sometimes broken, by an important bass line. This bass line adds considerable interest and harmonic rhythm, not unlike the Prelude. (See more in text.