Dans l'ombre d'un sourire

Set for five guitars and an octave bass (notated only in bass clef), this is a romantic prelude set in two flats.
Guitars Four and Five take half a bar of arpeggio in turn, with relaxed, spacious chords, and the chance for just a little more sustain than one guitar could manage. The chords move slowly, and include added sevenths and flat ninths to create space and a delicious yet relaxed, poignant tension.
As the remaining guitars enter, there is a slow and pleasing melody that drifts, high up the neck in a sleepy way, though occasional games with the rhythm give a capricious lift to it.
In the centre section, some off-the-beat light notes dance between spread chords and give a slight sense of urgency to the piece, heightening the effect of the reprise.
Restful, yet not bland, this is a charming piece that is not technically demanding, though realistically Grade 5 would be needed to convey the piece as fluently as it deserves.
The performance indications are rich, and draw on Italian terms that will be unfamiliar to the intermediate player (but a musical dictionary will show that these terms are thoughtfully chosen, giving great insight into the performance required). Fingering is superb.
Derek Hasted (Classical Guitar Magazine)