Nejc Kuhar
Les Productions D’Oz: Score and separate parts: 8, 3, and 4 pages respectively
This latest piece by Slovenia- born Kuhar is a heart – felt Largo written for the Eminent Duo that he has with violinist Moeko Sugiura who receives the dedication for the piece.
It begins with a guitar solo in two wide spaced voices that quickly becomes very chromatic and full of angst, followed shortly by the violin that enters on a long E, before gradually climbing up in pitch, to its own semi tonal clashes on the violin, whilst the guitar is right at the top of the fingerboard in three voices. The writing continues in this highly unusual mostly harmonized in a very unexpected way, as nothing is as you might expect .The violin has many places of double – stopping and the guitar, although the speed is Largo, never has an easy ride either. So any players of this piece would have to be advanced in technique. The coda is even slower in speed and dies away with all the chromaticism gone. There are some long held notes, and then the piece ends on an arpeggiated F#minor chord dying away al niente.
This is a very emotional piece full of unexpected music that really isn’t an easy listen, nor is it easy to perform, but any duos who like this composer’s highly individual style will gain much from this well – written piece.
Chris Dumigan