Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

In the early 2000s, I was involved in several projects with the Slovakian guitar duo La Barre. Jan had already premiered and performed many of my pieces and when he formed a due with Peter Remenik, he naturally asked me to write for the two of them as well. In 2001, I wrote a concerto for two guitars and string orchestra Heart On A Sleeve for them and after the successful premiere and recording for an album of the same title, they asked for more. This time a piece for two guitars to be premiered at the Kernow International Guitar Festival in England.

At the time, I was studying conducting and lots of my homework included sacred music of J.S. Bach. I regularly had to refer to the Bible to cross-reference some of the names, ides and stories used in Bach's music. During one of these readings, I came across a text what would became the title of this piece: The End of the Age. I tried to match this slightly apocalyptic idea with the music, but since I cannot sustain this dark mood for too long, there are lots of optimistic detours in this piece which lead to the Light.

The piece incorporates a few non-traditional classical guitar techniques such as finger tapping or playing chords by rubbing string with fingertips.

Work Details

Year: 2002

Instrumentation: 2 classical guitars.

Duration: 9 min.

Difficulty: Medium — AMEB 6/7 and above

Commission note: Commissioned by Duo La Barre.

First performance: by Duo La Barre — 20 Sep 02. The Kernow International Guitar Festival, Truro, UK