A Family Portrait, opus 47

“Surprising suite from Japanese composer/guitarist”
It is obvious from the front picture that each of the four movements here represents a family member, but you are left to work out exactly who for yourself, although there are cues! «Happiness in Uneasiness» has a mournful opening theme with a descending harmonie idea interlaced with chromatic hammer-ons. A briefly happier theme comes in, but the opening returns and pro­vides the coda. «Little and Innocent Varia­tions» is obviously a child, as the theme is joyful and bouncy, with a lilting, skipping melody. There are three more variations, with the middle one being very slow and mournful. Just to drive home the point, there is a brief quote from «London Bridge is Falling Down» right before the close. «Waltz for A Gentle Person» is a beauti­ful idea full of surprising details. It moves around various keys quite naturally, but this makes it far from easy. The final move­ment, «Completely Honest Person» is, I sus­pect, a dig at the composer himself, and the bluesy, slippery feel it occupies makes me think that perhaps the title is ironic. There is a direct quote from the previous «Waltz» in the middle, before the synco­pated ideas return. Again, the harmonies are surprising in their originality, and rely on semi-tonal moves to some extent, and very jazzy chord sequences. This is a wonderful suite that many will enjoy. It is of moderately advanced diffi­culty, but shouldn’t stop any decent play­ers from trying it out.
-Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)

A Family Portrait, Op. 47: 1. Happiness in Uneasiness
A Family Portrait, Op. 47: 2. Little and Innocent Variations
A Family Portrait, Op. 47: 3. Waltz for a Gentle Person
A Family Portrait, Op. 47: 4. Completely Honest Person