Guitar Concerto (La Abuela)

The guitar is my instrument. Guitarists Alex Dunn, David Tannenbaum and I attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music together, a turning point in my life when American composer John Adams taught me there, and encouraged my writing. So my guitar concerto takes the listener into the world of virtuoso guitarists, whose musical lives are permeated by the Spanish repertoire, and, of course, the ubiquitous Aranjuez Concerto (by Rodrigo) in particular. My concerto evokes the traditional in form and content, allowing the soloist to display technical and musical finesse. I am indebted to Alex for his wonderful inventiveness and suggestions to refine the guitar part, and for having commissioned the work.