Legendary guitarist Manuel Barrueco and his protégés, the Beijing Guitar Duo, offer music, ranging from the baroque to the 21st century, demonstrating the guitar’s unique ability to capture the many voices and moods of China and the Western World, in a stunning howcase of artistry and virtuosity.
The title ‘China West’ is borrowed from a work by Chinese composer Chen Yi. Her spectacular China West Suite - here transcribed by Manuel Barrueco - was inspired by folk songs of various Chinese ethnic groups. Another nod to China is ‘The Enchanted Island’, which guitarist/composer Sérgio Assad wrote for these artists, a piece inspired by the Chinatown in Havana, Cuba, one of the oldest and largest communities of Asians in Latin America.
From the West there is Barrueco’s three-guitar transcription of Bach’s Sonata No 6 in G, BWV 1019, originally for violin and cembalo, also incorporating the exquisite Prelude from the Violin Sonata, BWV 1023 arranged for solo guitar. ‘Fuga y Misterio’ and ‘Revirado’ by Argentinian tango legend Ástor Piazzolla and the charming miniature works ‘Estampas’ by Spanish composer Federico Moreno Tórroba add very different Western flavours.
The CD concludes with an attractive medley of music by Charlie Chaplin composed for his films. The selections arranged by Sérgio Assad come from ‘A Dog’s Life’, ‘Modern Times’, ‘Limelight’, and in line with the Chinese and Western theme, an introduction from Chaplin’s ‘A Countess from Hong Kong’.
