New melodic studies
A three-volume guitar album builds up from simple, short melodies to medium-heavy pieces; the melodic studies are more sharply contoured: all by Paul Coles.
For some time now, the Viennese Universal-Edition has been publishing the more or less demanding teaching literature of the British guitarist and composer Paul Coles with a certain regularity, most recently the volume 10 More Melodic Studies for Guitar. The "More" in the title refers to the 26 Melodic Studies; but the booklet also fits the three volumes Classical Guitar Album The latter are progressively structured, from simple monophonic melodies to moderately difficult pieces for more advanced players. They are suitable as teaching material for - even young - adults. The quiet, romantic miniatures in the second half of the third booklet are particularly appealing (Volume 1: UE 21675, first pieces; Volume 2: UE 21 676, easy pieces; Volume 3: UE 21 677, medium-difficulty pieces; € 12.50 each).
And this is precisely what the 10 More Melodic Studies a refreshing contrast. Faster tempi, longer musical texts, hearty melodies in the upper and lower voices and arpeggios that lie well in the hand, with the last piece as the climax: a furious, Spanish-influenced Vivace. Coles' tonal language is romantically colored, with modern echoes, the rhythm is attractive with syncopations and changes between numerous different time signatures, sometimes also somewhat unwieldy. Perhaps here and there a musical idea is packed into a piece more than necessary, so that a stringent musical arrangement is not always easy.
10 More Melodic Studies for Guitar like all Paul Coles' editions, is attractively presented and contains not only the English accompanying texts but also their German and French translations.
Paul Coles: 10 More Melodic Studies, for guitar, UE 21678, € 13.50, Universal Edition, Vienna
