“Surprising suite from Japanese composer/guitarist”
It is obvious from the front picture that each of the four movements here represents a family member, but you are left to work out exactly who for yourself, although there are cues! «Happiness in Uneasiness» has a mournful opening theme with a descending harmonie idea interlaced with chromatic hammer-ons. A briefly happier theme comes in, but the opening returns and provides the coda. «Little and Innocent Variations» is obviously a child, as the theme is joyful and bouncy, with a lilting, skipping melody. There are three more variations, with the middle one being very slow and mournful. Just to drive home the point, there is a brief quote from «London Bridge is Falling Down» right before the close. «Waltz for A Gentle Person» is a beautiful idea full of surprising details. It moves around various keys quite naturally, but this makes it far from easy. The final movement, «Completely Honest Person» is, I suspect, a dig at the composer himself, and the bluesy, slippery feel it occupies makes me think that perhaps the title is ironic. There is a direct quote from the previous «Waltz» in the middle, before the syncopated ideas return. Again, the harmonies are surprising in their originality, and rely on semi-tonal moves to some extent, and very jazzy chord sequences. This is a wonderful suite that many will enjoy. It is of moderately advanced difficulty, but shouldn’t stop any decent players from trying it out.
-Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)
