Oberlin Guitar Ensemble Spring 2024 I
We had our first of two spring Ensemble concerts Sunday. The concert featured the world premieres of three guitar duets written by Oberlin student composers, a project we’d been working towards bringing to the stage for some time. In addition, there were two mixed chamber trios. Most members of the guitar studio performed. (See end of post for full program).
We began with Oliver Hecht’s Conversations for two guitars, as played by Damian Goggans and Rio Manzanares. This four-movement work demonstrated a confidence with the texture that was impressive. While the movement names were common Baroque ones—Prelude-Sarabande-Chaconne-Gigue, the music was at times dreamy and impressionistic. The Gigue tipped its hat to the traditional dance form in its rhythms. Rio and Damian gave a confident reading, with beautiful tones and clear dynamics.
Composer Oliver Hecht with Damian Goggans and Rio Manzanares
Next up was a set of Dowland songs, as presented by soprano Samantha Lewis and guitarist Grigor Ylli. They were joined by Maya Ridenour on the viola da gamba, doubling the lute part’s bass lines in a way that perfectly fleshes out the ensemble. Samantha sang beautifully, and the ensemble played with sensitivity and nuance.
Maya Ridenour, Samantha Lewis and Grigor Ylli on stage in Kulas Hall
The second of our three new guitar duets followed, this time in a work by Matthew Thomas Brown, “Two Lives—Suite for Twin Guitars.” It was played ably by Solis Goldsmith and Sam Schollenberger.
Solis Goldsmith and Sam Schollenberger play music of Matthew Brown.
Composer Matthew Thomas Brown with Solis and Sam.
This was followed by a short but famous work of Ponce’s—Estrillita, this time in an arrangement for flute, guitar and double bass. Guitarist Damian Goggans was joined on stage by flutist Chloe Pauyo and bassist Malcolm Bamba. It provided a delightful change of mood between the contemporary works on the evening’s program.
Chloe Pauyo, Damian Goggans and Malcolm Bamba play Ponce
The evening concluded with a guitar duet composed by Oberlin student, Aaron Nichols. This was the longest and most challenging of the student works, at five movements and 27 pages. Guitarists Nik Divall and Suvan Agarwal rose to the occasion, delivering a compelling performance of a work which may well find its way into the standard guitar duo repertoire.
Thanks, everyone, for your performances, and special thanks to the student composers, Oliver Hecht, Matthew Thomas Brown and Aaron Nichols, for your remarkable new works for guitars, and to your composition professor Stephen Hartke, for having incorporated the guitar in his composition curriculum.
Suvan Agarwal and Nik Divall play music of Aaron Nichols
Composer Aaron Nichols, center, with Nik Divall and Suvan Agarwal
