Air, Amoroso

David Gaudreau can always be relied upon to write an interesting piece with a memorable melody and harmonies and this latest pairing is no exception.
The Air is a mixture of 2/4 and 3/4 and has a distinctly antique feel to it. Written in the slightly unusual key of F# minor, the mixture of twos and threes gives the piece a free almost improvisatory feel to it. Chord-driven, the melody rises at times as high as top G# on fret 16; so the piece, although slow is definitely not easy. A Più lento brings it to a pianissimo close. The Amoroso that follows is a lilting waltz in E minor, but before you all pale at the thought of another waltz in E minor, this one manages to avoid the hackneyed throughout, proving that it is possible to write a waltz in E minor and not sound like a million other pieces. Other composers take note, for the first idea you think of is not always the best! There is a certain Barrios-like quality about it, particularly in the middle when it traverses over to G Major. After a return of the opening idea, a Più lento coda and subsequent accelerando whip up the excitement factor to bring the pair to a satisfying conclusion.
Here then is another quality product from this Canadian writer that will appeal to intermediate players of all ages.
Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)