The Songmakers' Guild Presents Canciones for Soprano & Guitar - STELLENBOSCH

The classical voice and guitar duo Antoinette Huyssen and Peter Narun’s program Canciones comprises art songs in Spanish, German and English. Some of these works were originally written for this intimately transparent combination – in the case of Fernando Sor even intended for singers to accompany themselves on the guitar. Others, such as a selection of Schubert’s most well-loved Lieder, are idiomatically effective transcriptions of piano songs, a prime example being the rather guitaresque depiction of the spinning wheel in Gretchen am Spinnrade.

An exciting addition of local repertoire is the song cycle Floral Miniatures by award-winning composer Hans Huyssen, based on 5 haikus by Antoinette. Originally scored for soprano and cello, the work will receive its first performance in an arrangement for soprano and guitar.

While the combination of voice and guitar may be considered stock standard in folk and pop music, it features only rarely in the context of classical music. Yet, the soulful and richly diverse sound-world of the guitar is eminently suited to support a recital conveying a wide range of images and emotions – sometimes vibrant and light-hearted but oftentimes also filled with deep pathos.