Les rues mal famées

Opening with a 64th note quintuplet flourish the piece settles on to an insistent cross string D pedal which can surely provide the drama to realise the implications of the title. This flourish reoccurs several times and gradually the work builds, albeit in rapid single lines, into something of strong texture; menace lurks just around the next corner.
Eventually all this culminates in some fiery strummed chords from the four players. and imaginative guitarists should really be able to do something good with this. No dying away at the end of this one - it's the big forte finale and tambor. An approachable composition for top Niveau level players and above, this would surely make a good entry in a programme at whatever might be deemed the appropriate juncture. The printing is good; there are some page turn diffculties even in the parts, but I wouldn't criticise here because I see no realistic way around the problem - a genuine case for cutting/pasting if not memorising. Well worth looking out for any quartet needing a bold concert piece.
(Chris Kilvington, Classical Guitar)