Background This was a duo project with leading Brazilian guitarist/composer Chrystian Dozza. It involved the rehearsal and post-performance recording of a new guitar duet “Northeast Skies”, which employs traditional Brazilian rhythms in a contemporary setting, blending traditional elements with rock and contemporary musical influences. We premiered the work in concert in August 2018 and then rehearsed studio-recorded it at Immers’d Studio, QCGU.

Contribution This research involved an intensive rehearsal, performance and then recording process in collaboration with producer and engineer Matt Hitchcock, QCGU. Collaboratively, using online file sharing we then edited the recording for publication. The recording was released internationally on Dozza’s CD “No Frontiers” in February 2020. I worked closely with the composer to interpret this work together to best effect, stretching my classical technique to realise the composer’s extensive use of slur techniques, more common in rock styles and much more difficult to execute successfully on classical guitars. The work is of very high quality and this recording with the composer himself will undoubtedly be used as a model for future iterations of the piece.

Significance This work represents a significant addition to the repertoire for guitar duo and this world premiere recording was released online and in hard copy in February 2020. Dozza’s recordings reach a wide international audience of guitar experts and amateur music lovers through online and hard copy sales and this recording is the opening track of the CD. https://open.spotify.com/album/3DPmboAssPIg7SF6vgPMAU