This album features the world première recording of Preludios de Primavera (Preludes of Spring) by Joaquín Clerch, a guitarist and composer born in Havana.
Compositional Technique
Ernst Krenek's Suite for guitar, written in 1957, is based on a single series of twelve notes, which is audibly present throughout its five short movements.
Composition History
Frank Martin's Quatre pièces brèves (Four Short Pieces) for guitar were written in 1933 for the great guitarist Andrés Segovia, who was reportedly not pleased with the music and lost his copy.
Composer Biography
Manuel Ponce, a Mexican composer, established a chair of folk-music in the School of Music of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma in 1934, contributing to a recognisably Mexican musical identity.
Performer Biography
Michalis Kontaxakis, the guitarist on this album, was the first Greek musician to win first prize in the prestigious International Francisco Tárrega Guitar Competition in 2005.
Instruments
The guitar used for this recording was made by Alkis, from Athens.
Composer Biography
Ernst Krenek, an Austrian composer, gained international success with his jazz opera Jonny spielt auf and later emigrated to America due to his opposition to National Socialism.
