The Guitar
Rupert Boyd
Works by Jobim, Sor, Bach, Hoehne, Brouwer, Piazzolla, and Lennon /McCartney
Sono Luminus: DSL – 92231
Reviewed 17th July 12019
I have previously heard a number of Boyd’s recordings, including Boyd Meets Girl, his cello/guitar CD with his wife Laura Metcalf, and so I placed this one on the player with eager anticipation. As one can see from the composers, this is a widely diverse CD.
It starts with Roland Dyen’s arrangement (reworking?) of Jobim’s Felicidade, which if any of our readers has seen, they will know just how beautifully written, and yet how astoundingly hard it is to play in the first place. Bellinati’s version of Jobim’s Estrada Blanca that is next, is as contrasting from the opener as is possible, but is another beautiful performance .Sor’s Introduction and Variation on a Theme of Mozart is perhaps the most well – known piece here, being as it is, a piece that nearly every guitarist has tried at one time or another. It receives a thoughtful yet perfectly judged performance. Bach’s (Lute) Suite in Em BWV1006a in its entirety is next and, no matter what instrument it was written for , in itself a debatable fact, is of such a standard that it requires outstanding playing , which it gets here. One of the highlights is a new piece A Closed World of Fine Feelings by Graeme Koehne, a simply wonderful piece that needs to be played. The first ten of Brouwer’s ground – breaking Estudios Sencillos show just how fine a guitarist Boyd is. Two Benitez arrangements of Piazzolla, and a lovely version of John Lennon’s Julia close what is an utterly exceptional recording.
Chris Dumigan