Cassiopée

"[...] Although this is a short composition, some repeats and stylistic changes make this an interesting piece of a pleasing length, and, as we shall discover, one which will suit three players of similar and comparatively modest abilities. Set in A minor in 2/2 time, the adagio opening is suitably ethereal, with Am9 chords and a chance for each of the three guitars to weave a little melody above a slow and lightly syncopated chord and bass harmony. And then there's an unexpected change, marked Quasi Tango, not that the tango had been invented when the constellation was named, but who cares? Here again the melodic motifs are shared equally between the sections. Guitar One is tuned down to D and there are some deep and luscious chromatic passages here. The resonance of the open bottom D in the D minor chords is echoed when a different player enjoys the resonance of his open bottom E underpinning the E chords. The harmonies here are chromatic and pleasing - the dissonances are minimal and there are some lovely augmented and major seventh chords creating, between them a feeling of tension and wide-open spaces. Some of the writing is sublime - a diminished chord with a dissonant passing note that resolves produces a lovely effect. There are some nice little touches in the arrangement of the notes too - on the one or two occasions where the rhythm increases in complexity, it's given to a single guitar, so that there are no synchronisation issues to spoil the effortless and spacious sound. Perhaps the biggest delight is that it's a modest piece, technically speaking. Some of the inner rhythms will need confidence as they are off the beat, but the music seldom ventures higher than the third position. Being a trio, there is ample space for the parts without getting tangled. In terms of complexity, I think Grade 5 players would find this very accessible, and I think audiences will find it quite charming."

Derek Hasted (Classical Guitar Magazine)