Guitar Concerto

The music on this CD looks forward to the twenty-first century and the possibility of a new aesthetic for classical music. At the end of the twentieth century, classical music suffered from an apparent paradox: new additions to the repertoire were desperately needed but composers seemed unable to write music that could appeal to listeners and performers. As a result, classical music ceased to have cultural significance and now appears to us as the relic of a distant past. Only composers can remedy this situation. By writing music that aims to engender and appeal to audiences, I am hoping to revive the role of the composer-as-entertainer.

The music presented here intentionally crosses the boundaries between classical music and popular music. It looks to recognisable forms as a model for new music. The three songs arranged for orchestra with guitar soloist are modelled on popular song forms. They are abstract pieces that are simply meant to be good tunes but they also recognise that all music begins with the song and with melody. In this respect, these songs aim to encapsulate the most essential elements of good music.

The musical language which I have used in the songs is developed in a more extended way in the concerto. The traditional concerto form is used to organise musical ideas which balance melodic and rhythmic interest within an essentially familiar harmonic framework. The music is again abstract but aims to appeal to the average classical music radio listener. As with the songs, the goal of the music is melodic memorability, rhythmic vitality and entertainment.