Sombras del Barroco is a suite of four miniature movements, each drawing from Baroque musical materials and reframed through a contemporary lens. Rather than presenting a historical imitation, the suite reflects a modern composer’s attempt to revisit—through today’s sensibilities—the expressive spirit of music written more than three centuries ago.
The theme of the fourth movement is derived from Fernando Sor’s Study in E Minor, Op. 35, No. 18. Although the study dates from the Classical period, its opening gesture echoes the Gavotte from Johann Pachelbel’s Suite in E Minor, P. 435, and Sor incorporates characteristic Baroque harmonic progressions throughout. In this way, Sor’s study may itself be understood as a retrospective dialogue with the Baroque style—an affinity that aligns naturally with the central idea of Sombras del Barroco.
In the fourth variation of this movement, I further draw on the stylistic language of Sor’s Study in B Minor, Op. 35, No. 22, weaving elements of its character into a variation of the original study. In Japan, this study is widely known as “Moonlight,” a popular title that subsequently became widespread across Asia. Inspired by this association, I titled the variation La luz de luna de Anhelo, reflecting its dance-like motion and its expressive, moonlit atmosphere.
This work is dedicated to Taiwanese guitarist and guitar collector Shang-Yun Hou, in celebration of the 100th successful monthly gathering of the Hsinchu Guitar Friends, the organization he founded.
