Andy Terry Andy first started studying Classical Guitar at the age of fifteen. He began his studies with Jairo and his twin brother, Edgard Zaldua, Professor of Guitar at Harrow public school, who first introduced him to what was to become a lifelong interest in South American music, and he played the first of many public concerts after just two years of tuition. Edgard Zaldua is a Colombian guitarist, born in Bogota, who studied at the Royal Conservatoire in Madrid under Regino Sainz de la Maza, the famous guitarist who performed the premiere of the Concierto de Aranjuez in 1940, and to whom it was dedicated. Andy then became the first guitarist to study music at Keele University, under the guidance of composer and pianist Professor Peter Dickinson who encouraged his interest in 20th century South American composers, particularly the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, and the Venezuelan guitarist and composer, Antonio Lauro. Without any facilities for guitar tuition at Keele at that time, Andy travelled to the School of Music in Birmingham for tuition from Professor Brian Whitehouse, and played many concerts in and around Birmingham, as well as at Keele as part of his studies. As well as many venues over the years in the UK, Andy has played concerts in Paris, Hannover,,in the beautiful city of Vitebsk in Belarus, and in the Madeiran towns of Calheta and Funchal. In 2004 Andy was very privileged to meet the great international Classical guitarist Maestro Alirio Diaz, pupil and friend to Andres Segovia, who worked closely with Villa-Lobos and Lauro. Andy plays a guitar handmade by the luthier Antonio Picado in his workshop in Cardoso, Berga, a mountain village near Barcelona. The instrument has a robustness that copes well with the strong, sometimes percussive sounds of South American music, but can also achieve a delicate expressiveness that is particularly appropriate for the classical repertoire of the 19th century composers. Having suffered from a degenerative eye disease all his life, Andy is now registered blind, but does not allow this to interfere with his performing and teaching. Dilermando Reis Dilermando Reis, one of the most notable Brazilian popular guitarists, was born in São Paulo, but lived most of his life in Rio de Janeiro, where he worked actively in radio and recordings. From 1941 to 1975 he recorded over forty albums, his music embracing the Art Deco period and the blossoming of Jazz. Reis played different types of guitar music and recorded the compositions of Bach, Barrios, Tárrega, as well as popular Brazilian composers. His preference was the traditional Brazilian guitar style: waltzes and choros full of modulations to "confuse accompanists," played with his unique style and sound. The ‘choro’ is an instrumental Brazilian popular music genre which originated in 19th century. Despite the literal translation - “I cry” - many choro are light, happy pieces, embracing the soul of Brazil, and have arisen from the meld of European dance forms with African rhythms. As the pieces on this CD attest, Reis was an accomplished composer. He recorded about 100 of his own compositions, many of which became real standards of Brazilian popular guitar - like "Dois Destinos (Two Destinations)" and "Se Ela Perguntar (If She Asks)". Reis played the Brazilian guitar, or “violão”, similar in structure to the Classical guitar, but with seven soft steel strings instead of the more recognisable six gut or nylon strings on the classical instrument. Together with the famous Brazillian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Reis was responsible for the reawakening of interest in the great composer João Pernambuco, and recorded several of Pernambuco's works. As a professor of guitar, Reis counted among his students president Juscelino Kubitschek and the guitarists Bola Sete and Darci Vilaverde. About the music Notes about the works. 1. Romance - Anon - This well known piece was recorded by Reis on his LP album “Dilermando Reis – Sua Majestade o Violao (His Majesty the Guitar”)” (1957). There have been many theories as to the origin of the work, and many claims to authorship, but it is probable that the melody originated amongst the Sephardic Jews in medieval Spain, before these people were expelled from the Iberian peninsula in 1492, and hence will always remain anonymous. 2. Adelita – Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909) - Although his musical heritage was immersed in the music of his native Brazil, Reis was unusual in that he embraced the classical method of playing developed by the great guitarist and pedagogue Francisco Tarrega. This is a charming mazurka by Tarrega recorded by many guitarists including Reis on his album “Dilermando Reis” (1956) and later “Abismo de Rosas (Abyss of Roses)” (1958). 3. Se Ela Perguntar (If She Asks…) - Reis - One of Reis’ best known waltzes. This too can be found on his LP “Dilermando Reis – Sua Majestade o Violao (His Majesty the Guitar”)” (1957) and later on “Saudade de Ouro Preto (Sadness of Black Gold)” (1968) 4. Alma Apaixonada (Passionate Soul) - Reis - A song, on the LP “Dilermando Reis” (1968) 5. Fascination - FD Marchetti arr. Reis -This very famous waltz by Italian composer, Marchetti, was transcribed by Reis and recorded for the LP “Sua Majestade O Violão” Nº 2 (1959). 6. Desengano (Disillusion) – Reis - On the LP “Subindo Ao Céu (Soaring Sky)” (1966) 7. Dois Destinos (Two Destinations) – Reis - A very popular waltz in Brazil, and Reis recorded it several times, initially on 78rpm records in 1948 and 1955, and later the LP “Uma Voz E Um Violão Em Serenata – Vol 2” (1962) with Joseph Fortuna. 8. Iracema (Honey lips) – Reis - A waltz. Iracema was the principal character in the eponymous novel by José de Alencar, based upon a Brazilian legend. 9. Milonga del Ayer (Milonga for Yesterday) – Abel Fleury (1903-1958) - Abel Fleury was an Argentinian guitarist, teacher and composer. The Milonga, based on African rhythms absorbed from the huge slave trade of Buenos Aires, was one of the musical elements that came to make up the famous tango dance style. Reis plays this on the LP “Volta Ao Mundo Com Dilermando Reis Around the World with Dilermando Reis)” (1959) 10. Eterna Saudade (Eternal Sadness) – Reis - A waltz on the LP “Gotas De Lágrimas (Teardrops)” (1963) 11. Sobradinho – Reis - A maxixe on the LP “Dilermando Reis” (1969). The maxixe was a popular dance that again formed part of the elements that eventually developed into the tango. 12. Conversa de Baiana - Reis - A choro on the LP “Subindo Ao Céu (Soaring Sky)” (1966) 13. Uma Valsa e Dois Amores (One Waltz and Two Lovers) – Reis - A waltz on the LP “Saudade de Ouro Preto (Sadness of Black Gold)” (1968) 14. Sons de Carrilhoes (Peal of Bells) - João Teixeira Guimarães (1883-1947) - A choro. Better known as João Pernambuco, he was one of the founders of the Brasilian choro style. Due to the exposure of his work by Reis and Villa-Lobos his compositions for solo violão are deservedly considered belonging to the core of classic choro. Recorded many times by Reis, on 78 in 1952 and 1962, and on LPs including “Dilermando Reis” (1956). 15. Gente Boa (Good People) – Reis - A choro on the LP “O Violão Brasileiro De Dilermando Reis (The Brazilian Guitar of Dilermando Reis” (1975) 16. Lembro me Ainda (I Still Remember) – Reis - A waltz on the LP “Melodias Da Alvorada (Tunes of Dawn)” (1960)