Press - Classical Guitar article 2/2005

XIII International Guitar Festival and Masterclass Courses Brno '04

Guitar as a Chamber Instrument

by Jason Musil


It is said of the guitar that it spans so many genres and transcends so many musical barriers that to categorise it is futile.

Thus, returning after the excitement of the "improvisation" themed Brno International Guitar Festival last year, I was wondering if this year's theme of "guitar as a chamber instrument" would impose some sort of constriction.
It seemed to be at odds with the colourful choice of distinguished teachers and visiting guitarists. However, a combination of the instrument's versatility and some very clever planning by the organisers meant that the week of concerts, lectures and masterclasses probed everything the "guitar as a chamber instrument" was capable of.

The guitar was celebrated both as a solo instrument, an ensemble instrument and as an accompaniment for other instruments. As part of the participants' guitar orchestra it even sounded as an avant garde percussion instrument as part of Rex Willis' piece "The Floating Ancillary Ants".

In fact the exploration of both the theme and the medium was so thorough, I cannot think of any part of the guitar's broad musical spectrum that was not represented.

As with last year, the vivid "night of flamenco" worked its magic over the audience assembled in the magical courtyard of Spielberg Castle. This year featured authentic Andalusian music and dance from Oscar Guzman and his group of accomplished and passionate performers. Also returning after last year was Nigel North, who focused both his concert and lecture on the life and work of Dowland, providing reflectively calm and beautiful lute music towards the end of the week. If anyone was worried that the 'Chamber Instrument' theme was a little too heavy, the Guitar Project Trio (Italy) certainly lightened the tone, with the influences of their music including flamenco, classical, pop and even Miles Davis! The guitar was well represented as an ensemble instrument too. Duo Dagmar and Jozef Zsapko charmed with their Latin American influenced programme on flute and guitar. I had never personally heard guitar and clarinet together before, but Krzysztof Pelech and Jan Jakub Bokum demonstrated that wonderful music can result from such a pairing. Again covering a broad slice of the musical spectrum, Ostap Shutko (violin) and Leo Witoszynskyj (guitar) delighted with a programme that explored Paganini, Schubert and also Anna Havrylets' haunting "Four Exlibris" and melancholy Spanish Folk Songs from Manuel de Falla. Of course, no festival would be complete without getting to hear the solo guitar played by the hands of true masters. Mastery abounded in the concerts of Remi Boucher and Paolo Pegoraro, both playing programmes that again spanned a broad slice of the solo guitar repertoire.

Masterclasses were again successfully busy, with a mix of resident Czech guitarists and visiting teachers giving an intensive course of instruction throughout the week. In addition to Remi Boucher, Leo Witoszynskyj, Oscar Guzman, Paolo Pegoraro, Jozef Zsapka, Nigel North and Krzysztof Pelech, a number of additional guitarists bolstered the masterclass schedule. Rex Willis (USA), Stefano Viola (Italy) and Vladislav Blaha, Zdenek Dvorak, Milan Tesar (all from the Czech Republic) all contributed their expertise alongside those we heard in concert. Similarly essential components of the rich programme of the Brno festival were the lectures (given by Rex Willis on the theme of Blues and Nigel North about Dowland's life and works), the participants' concert (featuring all manner of ensembles, solos and the guitar orchestra directed by Alois Mensik and Rex Willis) and of course the wild all-night party to celebrate the success of the week!

As ever, the setting of Brno seems to fit the character of the festival perfectly (or vice-versa!). At times vivid, varied and vibrantly colourful, the mood of the festival can shift to almost meditative and introspective (for example Nigel North's work prompts us to look at where the notion of guitar-music evolved from). It is easy to sit back and really enjoy improving one's guitar playing in such a fine city, or to savour the evening concerts in this year's pretty venue of the Milosrdny brothers convent. Life's essentials were well taken care of, with comfortable accommodation in the Astorka hotel and good food in the Bohema restaurant - all included in the very reasonable festival price. The perfect festival, in perfect Bohemian style made affordable and accessible to everyone, all in all a resounding success!

-- press