Sharon isbin pacifica quartet youtube

GUITAR QUINTETS

Notes by Allan Kozinn

In its purest form, the classical guitar’s nylon (formerly catgut) strings and medium-sized resonating chamber yielded a sweet, rounded sound — but a soft-spoken one, compared with bowed and blown instruments.

As a result, the guitar, in its classical incarnation, has for the most part been a lonely instrument, a solo voice singing a remarkably varied repertory that embraces everything from dolorous introspection to vigorous dance music, but typically on its own.

The recording studio, of course, has always been a place where guitarists can redress the balance problems inherent in ensemble music, and relatively recently, guitarists of Sharon Isbin’s generation have been using subtle sound reinforcement technology that has leveled the playing field in the concert hall as well.

But even before the advent of recordings and amplification, brave composers and guitarists (and before them, lutenists) have been intent