Sakura

Jean-Marie Raymond seems to have a real talent for the skillful arranging of well-known tunes for solo guttar without taking them into the sometimes seemingly unattainable heights of the advanced player. I recently reviewed his very good arrangement of the Brazilian masterpiece Manha de Carnaval, and now here he gives us the beautiful Japanese classic tune, Sakura. The theme is obvious throughout and due to the arranger's clever use of harmony and high position work a real oriental effect is created particularly in the campanella sections. This would be ideal study material for the Grade 5 student particularly due to the introduction of a few 'artificial' harmonics. Highly recommended.

Steve Marsh (Classical Guitar Magazine)