Ponticello Tango

Any opportunity for the guitar to become involved with «mainstream« instruments ought to be jumped at and here is an offering from Patrick Roux which is definitely worth trying out if you can find a good flautist and happen to have a string quartet on hand too. Dedicated to the guitar and flute duo «Similia» (twins Annie and Nadia Labrie), Ponticello Tango is an exciting, invigorating and dramatic composition in one movement, very much in the tango nuevo manner formulated by Astor Piazzolla, the insistent heavy accentuation forcing the music ever forwards with various musical dialogues taking place between the instruments. A thrilling interlude arrives at the mid-way point with an unexpected abrupt change of rhythmic character making effective use of rests, this small segment concluding with the flautist playing pizzicato «breathy« sounds and the bowed string section playing half hair/half wood - all very effective. The piece, a sure-fire audience winner, would be a most welcome addition in any recital programme. To do the work full justice, a group of high standard would be needed. The work is neatly presented with full score and separate parts for every player. Steve Marsh (Classical Guitar Magazine)