Three Dialogues (Op.12)

1988, 14 minutes

For flute, solo guitar and guitar ensemble

  1. Allegro commodo
  2. Larghetto
  3. Vivace

This three-movement work is for solo flute, solo guitar and four-part guitar ensemble.

It was commissioned by Peter Rueffer, director of the Pulborough Guitar Summer School, and given its first performance there on August 19 1988.

It was decided that the flute would add a colourful contrast to the timbre of a large guitar ensemble.

The first movement is an arrangement of 7 Up (Op.12 No.1a), a piece written for the unusual combination of seven trumpets. It is constructed in an extended ternary structure in an overall D modal minor key, with the central section in B flat major.

The piece borrows from a mixture of styles: part Irish pseudo-folk in the dorian mode; part jazz, with syncopated rhythm and 'blue' notes; and part popular music with simple tonic-bass harmony (albeit with an individual style of juxtaposing chords).

The introspective second movement, using the Aeolian mode, is a much thinner texture and highlights the two soloists engaging in dialogue (more so here than in the outer movements).

Using a gently-lilting 6/8 metre for the most part, the structure is loosely ternary, but develops the initial material throughout.

The finale reverts to an extrovert mood, with the guitar ensemble playing a fuller part, melodically and rhythmically as well as providing harmonic support.

Beginning and ending in F major, it is based on a continually developed upward-rising scalic figure, the proponents all engaging in dialogue, using the composer's favoured style of employing 'remote' chording within a key.

Reviews

This composition is a truly modern piece, full of rhythmic effects which contrasted with soft melodic passages of romantic beauty.

Stephan Schmidt, Classical Guitar magazine, December 1988

Listen

This recording of Three Dialogues was performed by the Pulborough Guitar Ensemble on 28 December 1988 and 29 January 1989.

You can also listen to Three Dialogues on scoreexchange.com.

Performances

Recordings