Sonate

Description

This is a most enjoyable new composition and has to be one of the best solo offerings I've come across in recent times. The whole work is well crafted, full of inventive ideas both melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically and from the opening few bars one's attention is immediately grabbed and the interest never wanes for a second. Here is a man who really knows how to write for the instrument. Occasionally there is evidence (particularly in the final movement, a frantic toccata) that Piris has perhaps been influenced by the compositional style of Leo Brouwer. Both outer movements are as one would expect, quite high-speed affairs in general, but the highlight as far as I am concerned comes with the mysterious, haunting second movement where the composer seems to have poured his heart out in a piece which could easily stand on its own merits.

Throughout the work Piris draws on and makes ample use of one of the guitar's most natural qualities and attractive attributes, that of campanella (the ability to let one or more notes ring into another notes).

This stylish new accessible contemporary publication is very well presented here with just about the right amount of suggested fingering and it is to be hoped that Piris' Sonate receives the attention it well deserves from recitals and recordings. Highly recommended. Steve Marsh, Classical Guitar