Sonatina alla Spagnuola

The work is a sonatina in the Spanish style. The piece tries to avoid the pretty, sweet and perhaps sentimental view of Spain, rather, it attempts to capture the harsher and more passionate side of the Spanish character, a side found in the "Homenaje de Claude Debussy" for solo guitar by Manuel de Falla. There are three movements: The first is in sonata form; the second is a Habanera; the last movement is in Rondo form. The three movements are thematically linked. The work was first performed in 2010 by the Italian guitarist Gabriele Natilla at the "Sul Tasto" festival in Paris. A recording of the piece played by him can be heared on www.youtube.com. (Brian Wright)