Les Productions d'Oz

Composer: Takashi Ogawa
Format: Book
Instrumentation: Solo Classical Guitar
Level: Intermediate

This is a volume of 18 short descriptive pieces aimed at mature students of around grade 2/3 standard, each 'carrying a mood of nostalgia' (Ogawa). Each piece is set out clearly on a single page and the music is mostly written in two-part style with the melody on the treble strings and bass-line accompaniment.

The pieces are pleasant to play with some interesting contrasts of mood; I particularly enjoyed L'oiseau Migrateur with its smooth melodic line, Deternine with a persistent 2/4 rhythm, Le Livre dans la Garrigue which employs dotted quavers, and Blues Story with its triplet figures. My favorite piece, however, was Danse des Serpents with its opening upper mordant and parallel fifths. Techniques used in this volume include pizzicato, harmonies, glissando and staccato - excellent for developing a flexible technique.
- Linda Kelsall-Barnett, Classical Guitar, 12/2000