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Contra

Contra Guitar Duo’s debut recording showcases its musical personality and the elements they most enjoy about playing as a duo - lyricism, complex rubato and colour.

It opens with Divertimento, a vibrant work by Andrés Segovia, his only work for two guitars. Much like Segovia’s other compositions, the work is colourful, lyrical and in a romantic style. It's a short dynamic piece which seamlessly passes the melodic line between players.

Crisantemi by Giacomo Puccini is a deeply sincere elegy composed in a single night following the death of the former King of Spain, Amadeo di Savoia, in 1890. Originally for string quartet, the work has been masterfully arranged by Angelo Gilardino. The music is poetic and creates a sense of yearning, employing sustained notes requiring extreme control and balance between players.

Three Duets by Phillip Houghton offers a stark contrast with its scherzo character and angular rhythmic figures. Houghton describes the first movement, The Mantis and the Moon, as an “existential ‘Insect/Lunar Comic-Tragedy of Whimsical Proportions’!” The second movement Lament is sparsely written and gives the impression of time standing still. The final movement Alchemy is inspired by Houghton’s vision of “sparks of gold and threads of light coming out of the guitars” and features a driving ostinato traded between guitars.

This short album closes with Alexandre Tansman’s Variations on a Theme of Scriabin - a highly complex and dense work originally for solo guitar arranged by Tilman Hoppstock. By sharing the thick polyphonic writing across two instruments, the work’s lyrical and colourful character is perfectly encapsulated; the medium of guitar duo enabling exceptional musical clarity far beyond what is possible on one instrument.

Artists

Hamish Strathdee

Classical guitarist, Hamish Strathdee, is regarded as an "excellent young Australian performer" (Limelight Magazine).

Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle


Track Listing

  1. Divertimento Andrés Segovia
  2. Crisantemi Giacomo Puccini
  3. The Mantis and the Moon Phillip Houghton
  4. Lament Phillip Houghton
  5. Alchemy Phillip Houghton
  6. Variations on a Theme of Scriabin Alexandre Tansman

Performers

Composer

Phillip Houghton

Phillip Houghton's guitar music has been performed and recorded by leading musicians, including John Williams and Timothy Kain, who recently recorded his Three Duets. Some 20 of his guitar solos, published by Moonstone Music, are on the national music syllabus (AMEB) and is also represented in the new Benjamin Verdery Guitar Series for Frederick Harris Publishers.


Where to buy

Contra is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Contra is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$15.00 AUD
Release date
May 2023
Copyright
© 2023 Contra Guitar Duo
Phonogram
℗ 2023 Move Records
Category
Classical
Catalogue number
MCD 644
Alternate catalogue number
MCD644
Barcode
EAN 9314574064421