Javier Farias Chilean composer and guitarist Javier Parias initially wrote 5 Fachadas for solo guitar in 1996, later arranging them for the present combination of viola and guitar for the Alturas Duo. Two of the pieces retain significant solo guitar passages, providing textural contrast. Parias draws upon Latin American folkloric rhythmic characteristics, using modal harmonies, chromaticism, and subtle rhythmic unpredictability to inject a contemporary sensibility into the set. This edition of the 5 Fachadas is a wonderful addition to the repertoire, addressing a need for more pieces of significance for the worthy but relatively underexplored instrumental combination of guitar and viola, and asserting a strong and convincing approach to integrating folkloric material into a modern aesthetic. The guitar part is idiomatic, though with plenty of challenges, and is a strong concert-level piece. The edition is clear and well engraved, with somewhat limited but always helpful fingering suggestions.
-Daniel Lippel (Soundboard Magazine)
