Five Preludes for guitar

Five Preludes for Guitar: we have, of course, the beautiful Villa-Lobos ones that we all know and love. 

These five are from a different time and place, but share the aspect of being something of a love letter to our wonderful instrument. 

Melodic, and somewhat reflective in nature, each takes a different musical idea, such as a cantilena theme with murmuring accompaniment in No. 2, or overlapping descending lines in No. 3, but through the filter of using the guitar in its most natural way: campanella, harmonics, sustaining tenor lines on the lower strings, large open chords, etc. 

I really enjoyed writing these and I hope you will enjoy playing them just as much. I have dedicated them to ‘all guitarists of the world’ - a ‘fraternity’ to which I am extremely honoured to belong. 

David Braid, London, 2025