Aria - Homage to Ravel: Concert Presentation

Matthew Halper

College: College of Liberal Arts

Department: Music

Abstract:

My collaborations with classical guitarist William Kanengiser, founding member of the Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, have led to several eventful performances of my compositional work, including a performance of my Danse Macabre with the USC Guitar Ensemble under his direction.More recent projects have included works for solo guitar.I was first introduced to the classical (nylon-string) guitar as a teenager. Growing up with the electric guitar in my hands, and progressive rock in my ears, the tonal and textural possibilities of this “other type of guitar” presented a vast and intriguing terrain I was eager to explore.I have always been drawn in by the evocative beauty and subtlety of the music of Maurice Ravel. I was disappointed to discover that he never had the opportunity to write for the guitar. The soft-spoken Aria from my Three Dedications for Guitar is my modest tip-of-the-hat to Ravel’s finely-wrought, not-so-simple elegance, as it might be realized on this instrument.