Dale Cavanagh : The Ghost of Peggy’s Cove for 2 guitars : DOz

Dale Cavanagh

Les Productions D’Oz: Score and Separate parts : (11,5, and 7 pages respectively)

Here is a considerable piece of writing by Canadian –born Dale Cavanagh dedicated to the ChromaDuo , whose excellent performance you can find on YouTube. The piece tells of a tragic event that happened to a couple who lived in Peggy’s Cove. It begins with  harmonic little 4 –note phrase before a steady flow of semi – quavers in guitar 2 plays behind the opening chords and pairs of fifths that guitar plays, apparently simulating the ocean waves. Gradually the top part develops into a quite intricate melody full of colourful chords still accompanied by the flowing semi – quavers until the harmonic 4 note phrase returns , this time slightly extended including a number of demi – semi – quaver hammer –ons and then an accelerando leading to both guitarists playing hemi – demi – semi quaver arpeggios, ten notes to a beat.

After this a new section occurs in a mixture of 5/4 and 3 / 4 all in quavers but strong accents often off – beat in a number of places. This leads to a Meno Mosso of single notes before building up into some bars of chords .After a ritard, the single notes return but with yet another new melody that leads to a brief resume of the 4 note harmonic opening, and then to a varied repeat of the main first theme. Instead of a fortissimo close, the music finally brings back the 4 note opening one more time, and everything finishes pianissimo.

This is an interesting piece that does need very good players to get it sounding correctly. The music is modern but friendly throughout and very descriptive in its language. I can see this being a piece duos and an audience would really appreciate.

Chris Dumigan