“EQUUS” for guitar duo, is composed in such a way as to exploit both the lateral and horizontal nature of the guitar’s pitch system. This is achieved by ensuring, where practical, to have each successive note played on a different string to the last. The result is a cloud of ringing tonalities left in the wake of the melodic material.

Stylistically the piece is inspired in part by the rhythmic and harmonic nature of Irish traditional music contrasted against alternating flourishes of ambiguous tonality, traded between the performers. Microtonality can also be heard at points where plucking the string to the left of the fretted hand is indicated in the score.

The title is a reference to the ‘galloping’ quality found in the principle themes, often heard in Irish folk music.

PERFORMED BY ÉIRE GUITAR DUO

Premiered at the Kilkenny Alternative Arts Festival 2024

Guitar 1 - Oscar Montague

Guitar 2 - Santiago Kodela

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MIXED & MASTERED BY BOB KATZ