CEMBALO BRUTTO - microtonal guitar duo

Mat Muntz

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Duo

2021

15 min.

Electric Guitar

Guitar

Strings, plucked

Program Notes: One of the most compelling aspects of the traditional music of the Istrian peninsula and northern Croatian coast is the prevalence of two-voiced performances, in which a pair of singers or players of sopile (a pair of shawms) will align their phrasing and pitch to the point where they seem to merge into a single performer. The bagpipe meh presents the opposite illusion, using its asymmetrical double chanter to render two voices from one instrument, always moving in the region’s typical untempered parallel thirds. In CEMBALO BRUTTO, for two guitars displaced by 33.3 cents, I sought to render my impressions of some of the mechanics of two-voiced folk music, particularly the possibility of two instruments to merge into one. The title, meaning “ugly harpsichord,” suggests each guitar as a keyboard manual - the paradox (as well as the “ugliness”) with this setup is that due to the retuning, it is impossible for the guitars to ever play in unison. The illusion of unification is accomplished by other means, including hocketing, composite harmonies, and hypnotically repeating canons.
Recording Notes: Performed by Alec Goldfarb and Tal Yahalom - guitars Edited and mixed by Mat Muntz
Ensemble Name: Alec Goldfarb/Tal Yahalom