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<\/p>\nChris Dumigan reviews Jean-Marie Raymond’s “Anthologie”, “Ballad for a Friend”, and Evocation Nostalgique.<\/p>\n
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Over the years, many pieces by this fine composer have come my way, always distinguished by a fine melodic line, appealing harmony work, and very guitaristic in every way. Now here comes a huge compendium of no fewer than 50 contemporary pieces composed or arranged by French guitarist and composer Jean-Marie Raymond (b. 1949), compiled into one vast book, including most, if not all, of the d\u2019Oz publications of his work. Included, too, are a number of his arrangements of pieces such as \u201cVoi Che Sapete\u201d from Mozart\u2019s Marriage of Figaro<\/em>; his singular take on the Japanese folk song \u201cSakura,\u201d \u201cLes Moulins de mon Coeur\u201d (\u201cWindmills of My Heart,\u201d) from Michel Legrand\u2019s pen, and Edith Piaf\u2019s \u201cLa Vie en Rose,\u201d to name a few. His original works are every bit as good\u2014consistently entertaining throughout and varied in style\u2014suitable for any lover of intermediate guitar pieces with flair and a certain style.<\/p>\n Case in point: the 2014 composition \u201cBallad for a Friend (hommage \u00e0 Akira Asada),\u201d his ode to the Japanese postmodern critic and curator. Con malonconia is the instruction at the top of the music, and the best way to describe the opening is a sad tango. It is set in A minor, with nice chord structure and some interesting little deviations from the norm, so your interest never wanes. The relative major key brings in a momentary brightness to the gloom of the opening, but is colored by a bittersweet element that never really lets the music actually be happy. The return of the opening sets the tone for the remainder of the piece, and it all ends on an altered chord of A minor.<\/p>\n This little piece has a nice feel, some interesting part-writing, a pleasant melody and harmonies, making it every bit as good as Raymond\u2019s many other works. It\u2019s not difficult to play, and I can see it going down well in many musical camps.<\/p>\n \u201cEvocation Nostalgique,\u201d another recent piece by Raymond begins with a solemn prelude, before entering into a gavotta maestosa in E minor in three voices, with alternating bass and chords topped by an attractive melody that after a lengthy period turns into a second section in G minor subtitled romanza. This in turn moves into its relative major key before changing back to E minor and a varied repetition of the opening of the gavotta. A new section in E major marked danza elegiaca provides a momentary diversion at a slightly relaxed speed before the E minor opening gavotta melody returns once more and the piece closes.<\/p>\n This extended piece has plenty of variety, with many interesting and melodic ideas, making it a welcome inclusion to Raymond\u2019s ever-growing list of attractive guitar works.<\/p>\n ANTHOLOGIE BALLAD FOR A FRIEND EVOCATION NOSTALGIQUE Here’s a nice recording of Bernard Cyrloud performing “Evocation Nostalgique.”<\/p>\n
\nLes Productions d\u2019Oz 127 pp.<\/p>\n
\nLes Productions d\u2019Oz DZ2232. 7 pp.<\/p>\n
\nLes Productions d\u2019Oz DZ2223. 6 pp.<\/p>\n
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