Roland Dyens

Côté Sud

This is my first composition for guitar ensemble. At the time, there were few important works in this format, and they hardly sparked off my imagination (they included vague transcriptions of music by Telemann, Vivaldi and so on). Fortunately the in-depth work that took place in rehearsals, impinging on spatial effects, timbres and dynamics, soon overcame my initial reticence, and opened my eyes (and ears) to the vast field of untilled possibilities that the relatively new idea of guitar ensemble opened up before me. But let us return to Côté Sud, a 'pretend' octet that has already been recorded by several guitar quartets. I have learnt - much to my delight - that this atmospheric music, dominated by the sun, is very popular with audiences. I just wonder how much this is because of the final chord, which the guitarists unexpectedly sing.Roland Dyens