Idée fixe

I have seen quite a few pieces by this French-born composer but this is certainly one of his very best. Written in 2004, it begins «allegro« with a pizzicato, plodding bass line on guitar two (the idée fixe of the title) with guitar one adding a heavily accented descending motif with a forward momentum that is immediately engaging. This soon evolves into descending parallel thirds before returning to the crunching descending pattern. An «Andante« provides a certain momentary contrast before the «Allegro« resumes with the idée fixe unabated. It now reaches a very swift climax via a semiquaver run before the «Andante«; now longer and more developed takes over again. Things get very tense at this stage and after a cadenza-like flurry of notes from both guitarists, the «Allegro« resumes for one last time; the descending motif entering fortissimo in high octaves. The idée fixe returns to close the proceedings one last time, unbowed and unaffected by all that has gone before. Its brief theme is hammered home once more; a long glissando and a fortissimo thrashing of the open strings by both guitarists and it is all over.
This is a fun, exciting and very entertaining four and a half minutes of weIl written guitar music. It is of moderate difficulty only, so interested parties need not be too advanced.
Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)