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johnathansantos202

Starting the collaboration process.

Updated: Feb 18, 2022


After a few email exchanges, it was decided that myself and Darren Loughran, would become the collaborators for the “Collaborative Music Performance” module in which students on the MA in Performance and Musicology and MA in Composition are required to work together to create a piece that will be performed in 2022.

As soon as we established our partnership, I asked Darren to send me the repertoire he had been working on, which he did promptly.


Loughran sent me three pieces from 20th-century composers; he also sent me a video of his interpretation of one of the works.

Malcom Arnold's fantasy for the guitar was the piece that I enjoyed the most, mainly how he uses an extended technique to emulate a military snare drum. My idea is to simulate an Afro-Brazilian percussion instrument called “Berimbau” using the same technique.


Here is a demonstration of the instrument:




After a few days of trying out new ideas and concepts, I sketched the ones I thought were strong enough as a germ for a section for the piece.


- Johnathan (the composer)



During our first discussion about this project, Johnathan informed me he wished to write a piece for the guitar inspired by the berimbau. I had heard this instrument being played before and Johnathan was good enough to provide me with audio and video of this instrument being played, giving me some idea of what to expect from the music which he intended to write.

I was pleased to learn that Johnathan was familiar with the guitar and enjoyed the music of Hector Villa Lobos, an important Brazilian guitarist and composer.

I had provided Johnathan with selected pieces from my current repertoire and also a video of my interpretation of an Enrique Granados piece to assist him in the writing process and also to provide him with an idea of my own tendencies towards the instrument.


- Darren (The Performer)




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