Les 100 de Roland Dyens - Terre promise

This translates as “Promised Land”, and is immediately a little more of a challenge than some of the others, although, not too much, I hasten to add. It consists of a curious stop-start feel, where you play certain motives across various differing time signatures, interwoven with real pauses, so one gets moments of fast movement followed by sudden calm, Dyens makes a big point about counting the silences with great care and not to move the piece forwards through getting too impatient. The piece quickly gets more animated, even violent at times as one is required to play certain notes with, and I quote here 'growing distortion followed by short percussion on the strings with a fist. The quickly changing positions of some parts, plus the changing time Signatures mean that this piece needs a bit of work to get it sounding just right but then any worthwhile piece needs that and this piece is certainly worthy of your attention. It would also be a fine dramatic recital piece, or maybe just a study piece. Recommended.

Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)