Friday, April 13, 2012

TheaterJones.com: “Leo Brouwer's work 'El Decameron Negro'” was “highlight” of Ricardo Cobo Recital at Allegro Guitar Series


[Leo Brouwer]

Flare Guitar
by John Norine Jr.
published Friday, April 13, 2012

“As the final concert of the 2011-12 season for the Allegro Guitar Series, the Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society and the Allegro Guitar Society of Dallas presented Colombian guitarist Ricardo Cobo Thursday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The recital featured music from Central and South America, by composers Figuerado, Coste, Reis, Pujol, Martin, Brouwer and Piazzolla. The concert was originally meant to feature guitarist Luis Zea, but due to unforeseen issues, Cobo stepped in to perform a stunning display of music.”

“The highlight of the recital was hearing Cobo skillfully navigate through the counterpoint of Leo Brouwer's work El Decameron Negro, allowing the musical line to sing out while not subjugating the contrary motion to a secondary role. Consisting of three movements, the music is the composer's representation of oral story tradition of Africa—the third movement (Balada de La Doncella Enamorada) in particular was breathtaking in its presentation. The movement also made use of scordatura tuning (the de-tuning of a string from its normal pitch for effect or to gain higher or lower notes), which was handled quickly and efficiently, but also gave a greater depth to the music, both aurally and figuratively.”  [Leo Brouwer (b.1939) is featured at AfriClassical.com]




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