excerpt :

"Shadow Dances" (360K)

performed by:

Slava Grigoryan - guitar

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

conducted by : Nigel Westlake

about "Shadow Dances"..........

"Shadow Dances" is the most recent of a number of works commissioned by Timothy Kain, head of guitar at the ANU School of Music.
Originally called "Images", it was premiered by him in 2000 with the "Academy of Melbourne".
The HC Coombs fellowship at ANU in 2004 provided me with the opportunity to revisit the piece & rework many aspects of the form & orchestration, hence the new title.

The guitar writing in “Shadow Dances” has been very much informed by my long association with Tim Kain , who has been guiding me through the labyrinth of mysteries surrounding guitar composition since 1989 & the commissioning of "Winter in the Forgotten Valley" for his award winning ensemble "GuitarTrek".

His ongoing support for my work in the form of frequent performances, recordings & ongoing commissions has since resulted in a total of seven pieces either featuring or including guitar.

"Shadow Dances" opens with an abrupt explosion that immediately settles into a fluid texture of sustained dissonance. Fragments of colour & melody evolve & build towards the first guitar entry.

In a gentle exploration of polychromatic lyricism, the orchestra resonates & responds to the gestures of the guitar, creating an intimate dialogue between soloist & ensemble.

An extended free-form cadenza forms a bridge to the "dance", a pulsating, high energy sequence of rhythmic invention based on repetition & variation.