Variations sur trois thèmes appalachiens

On the Banks of that Lonely River in G major begins this set. A brief fourbar intro consisting of unusually voiced six -string chords leads into the theme proper. Sounding very 'Classical' this largely two-voiced theme leads into a chromatically-sliding first variation mostly in the upper register before turning something akin to ragtime in the second. A gigue-like 6/8 takes us into variation three before an Epilogue gradually returns us to a variation nearer to the original melody. This piece is interestingly written, with much to commend it. Similarly Black is the Color of my True Love's Hair, and Old Joe Clarke continue in the same manner, each in its own way quite different from its predecessor. The second work is in A minor and has a haunting melody with some intriguing work-outs in the variations, whilst the third piece is a gigue-like melody with a multiple of semiquavers, providing the player with plenty of opportunity to show off his technical prowess. I liked this set a lot, and it would be interesting to hear them performed, for they do deserve to be heard.
(Chris Dumigan, Classical Guitar, May 2001)