"This is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Tetra Guitar Quartet, and prospective purchasers can cut to the chase with two simple moves. Firstly, how hard is it? Well, be aware that the music is a showcase for Tetra's fantastic playing ability - this is not for an average quartet. Secondly, what does it sound like? The opening section is on YouTube. It begs the question of where the rest of the video went to, and whether Tetra collapsed with the exhaustion of committing it to memory. The whole track, of course can be purchased on their CD - maybe they used the part-scores for that... This review then, is perhaps just for the relatively small number of quartets who are highly competent and enjoyed what the YouTube clip. The biography is overly long, but you will welcome two pages of explanation of most of the performance indications. You might wonder whether conclusion - with the exhortation 'you will then pretend playing for about 5 seconds' after the diminuendo has descended to silence is pretence or pretentious. Guitar Two is tuned to 6=D and Guitars Three and Four to 6=C, giving a wonderfully warm bass from the flesh of the thumb. [...] With attention to personal time-keeping, the piece has plenty of alignment points to keep the ensemble tightly in step, though there is plenty else to think of - the mix of notes and harmonics is at times particularly demanding. Most of the rhythmic complexity is in sequencing the notes at the right instant, rather than playing overtly fast, and when it comes good, the complexity is concealed from the audience. Although 'like a rondo', the audience would have no easy time if they expected this to be obvious in its structure. Indeed, the piece takes us from Andante, through Poco Piu Mosso, to Jazzvalsando, Calmando, before the reprise. On the way there are episodes in 13/16 time, 5/8 time and oodles of 'gliss' and pizzicato. [...]".
Derek Hasted (Classical Guitar Magazine)
