Stephen Goss

composer

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Aphorisms

2024 | 8 mins | for two guitars

Look before you leap
Less is more
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Still waters run deep
It takes two to tango
A stitch in time saves nine
Don’t let the bastards grind you down
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Silence is golden
Necessity is the mother of invention
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us
Practice makes perfect
A person with one clock knows what time it is. A person with two is never sure.
Revenge is a dish best served cold
Eat, drink, and be merry

Aphorisms is a set of very short pieces for two guitars, most of which only last a few seconds. Each of the 15 pieces is based on a familiar aphorism. The work was commissioned by Lucio Matarazzo, for the Duo Matarazzo Masi. Details of the premiere and recording coming soon.

Cocktail List

2022 | 20 mins | for two guitars

Iron Lady
Piña Colada
The Last Word
Negroni
Caipirinha
Vieux Carré
Bloody Mary
Alabama Slammer
Mojito
Boulevardier
Vodka Martini
Manhattan

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Cocktail List is a set of 12 miniatures, each based on a particular cocktail. The piece was commissioned by Zoran Dukić and Aniello Desiderio. Each cocktail was sponsored by an individual donor. The first performance takes place at the Kurfürstliches Schloss, Koblenz, Germany, on 2nd June 2022, as part of the 30th Koblenz Guitar Festival. Cocktail List is published by Doberman-Yppan DO1451. Recorded on Landscape and Memory, Deux-Elles (DXL 1202© 2024).

Joni

2022 | 8 mins | for three guitars and baritone guitar

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Joni is was commissioned by Guitar Trek as part of a project celebrating popular song from the last 100 years. Joni is based on various songs by Joni Mitchell. The single came out on the ABC label on 8th September 2023, with the album following on 20th October.

River Fragments

2020 | 10 mins | for two guitars

Waterfalls
Deep River
Castle in the Air

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River Fragments was commissioned by SoloDuo (Lorenzo Micheli and Matteo Mela). The premiere took place on 11th September 2021 at the Auditorium Pollini, Padua, Italy, as part of the International Guitar Festival “Homenaje”. The piece is published by Doberman DO1471. Recorded on Landscape and Memory, Deux-Elles (DXL 1202© 2024).

Tarot

2019 | 15 mins | for four guitars (doubling quint-bass and Baroque guitar) and percussion

Wheel of Fortune
Temperance
The Magician
The Lovers
The Fool
The Devil
Death

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Tarot is a set of pieces based on 7 tarot cards. The order of the movements and the number of movements played is determined by the dealing or choosing of cards.

The work was commissioned by the Barrios Guitar Quartet who gave the first performance at the 9th International. Friedberg Guitar Symposium on 14th September 2019. Tarot is recorded on «tarot» Aurea Vox (2021-7) and published by Doberman DO 1393 © 2021.

Canción y Joropo

2019 | 7 mins | for four guitars

Canción
Joropo

Commissioned by Pixaudio for a documentary film about the composer Antonio Lauro. The first performance was given by the Mēla Guitar Quartet. on 5th May 2019, at the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, London.

Minimal Effort

2018 | 7 mins | for guitar orchestra

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Commissioned by Julia Pernet and the Tucson Guitar Society. The first performance was given by the Tucson Guitar Society Orchestra conducted by Jose Luis Puerta, on Saturday December 15, 2018, at the Holsclaw Hall, Tucson, AZ. Published by Doberman-Yppan DO 1308 © 2021.

Cantigas de Santiago (arr. Wright)

2017 | 20 mins | for three guitars

Quen a Virgen ben servirá
Ondas do mare de Vigo
Como póden per sas culpas
Kyrie Trope
A madre de Deus
Ay ondas que eu vin veer
Non é gran cousa se sabe

Score Notes

The original version of ‘Cantigas de Santiago’ was commissioned by David Russell, who gave the first performance at Milton Court, Barbican Centre, London, UK, 31st January 2015. This arrangement was made Richard Wright for his students at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. Published by Doberman-Yppan © 2018

Talking Drums

2016 | 8 mins | for two guitars

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Talking Drums was commissioned by the Hibernian Guitar Duo with funds provided by Philip Carne. The piece is based on West African Batá drumming patterns. The first performance took place at the International Guitar Research Centre Conference, 22nd March 2016. The piece is published by Doberman Editions.

Mahler Lieder

2011 | 17 mins | for four guitars

Von der Jugend
Waltz
Ich atmet’ einem linden Duft
Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt
Um Mitternacht
Ländler

“Mahler Lieder persuasively captures the flavour of the originals. It comes off extraordinarily well.” Gitarre und Laute

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Commissioned by the International Mahler Centenary Conference, UK and the Brno International Guitar Festival, Czech Republic for the Tetra guitar quartet. First performance 8th July 2011. Recorded on About Time, Tetra Guitar Quartet, BGS Records © 2013. Published by Doberman-Yppan, Canada © 2013

Still the Sea

2009 | 9 mins | for two guitars

The Black River
Silent Pool
Fire Water

“Still the Sea displays the formidable breadth of this talented composer’s style. Written as homage to Toru Takemitsu the work explores a variety of guitar sonorities.” Classical Guitar Review

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Commissioned by ChromaDuo as a homage to Toru Takemitsu. First performance Baltimore Guitar Society, USA, 7th February 2010. Recorded on Hidden Waters 00261 32214 © 2011. Published by Les Productions D’Oz © 2014.

Welsh Folksongs

2008 | 12 mins | for two guitars

Dafydd y Garreg Wen
Wrth fynd hefo Deio i Dywyn
Suo-gân
Lliw Gwyn Rhosyn yr Haf
Lisa Lân
Hela’r ‘Sgyfarnog

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Commissioned by the Welsh-Argentine Guitar Duo, Adam Khan and Luis Eduardo Orias Diz. First performance, 12th July, 2008. The Minster, Axminster, Devon, UK, 7.30 pm. Recorded on Voyage to Patagonia WAG Records, Argentina © 2010. Published by Doberman-Yppan © 2015

The Raw and the Cooked

2004 | 15 mins | for two guitars

Hot
The Cooked
Milonga
Song Without Words
Caught Between
Malabar Hill
The Raw
One Female Dancer
Alba
The Hotel Kempinski
Tango Brawl
The Ajman

“Stephen Goss’s The Raw and the Cooked is a contribution of real substance to the 2-guitar repertoire. It’s funny and witty apart from anything else, human qualities that are usually neglected when ‘serious’ composers sit down to write ‘classical’ music.” Colin Cooper, Classical Guitar Magazine

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Commissioned by the Hand-Dupré Duo. First performances given on a tour of South Africa between 1st and 14th June 2004.

Recorded by the Hand-Dupré Duo on Songs Without Words (CACD0501 © 2005), the Albach Duo on The Raw and the Cooked (Crystal Palace Records © 2007) and ChromaDuo on Hidden Waters (NAXOS © 2012 8.572757). Published by Doberman-Yppan © 2014 ISBN : 978-2-89503-649-4

Gnossiennes after Erik Satie

2002 | 14 mins | for four guitars

Gnossienne 3
Gymnopédie 3
Gnossienne 4
Gymnopédie 1
Gnossienne 2

“A radical lens is taken to Satie in Goss’s Gnossiennes. Satie’s radical and visionary music is treated to increasingly clear interventions undertaken with great sympathy and not a little reverence along with a distinct degree of cheek at times.” Classical Guitar Magazine

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Commissioned by Chameleon Arts. First performed by the TETRA Guitar Quartet at the Purcell Room, London 7th October 2002. Recorded by Tetra on Carmen (CADCD0460 © 2004) and on El Calor del Día by the Barrios Guitar Quartet (BGQ 191111 © 2011). Published by Doberman-Yppan ISBN 978-2-89503-722-4 © 2015

Lachrymae

2001 | 5 mins | for four guitars

“This piece is drawn from the works of Dowland and takes as its starting point the faint resonances that emanate from lute basses. It is a mesmerising palate-cleanser. Very highly recommended.” Classical Guitar Magazine

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Commissioned by the Guildford International Festival. First performed by the TETRA Guitar Quartet at the Electric Theatre, Guildford, 21st March, 2001. First American performance given by the Lamont School of Music Guitar Ensemble, Denver Colorado, November 2002. Recorded on Carmen(CADCD0460 © 2004). Published by Doberman-Yppan © 2014

Carmen Fantasy

1998 | 22 mins | for four guitars

Torero
Habanera
Aragonaise
Seguidilla
Gypsy Song

“This party-piece of the year achieves the impossible… flair, quick thinking and a feel for colour are everywhere… part satire, [it] cleverly deconstructs the opera and other composers’ Spanish fantasies.” BBC Music Magazine

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Commissioned by Carlton Home Entertainment. First performed by the TETRA Guitar Quartet, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 4th March 1999. Recorded on Carmen Fantasy (Hallmark, 30368 01352 © 1999) and on Carmen (CADCD0460 © 2004). Published by Doberman-Yppan ISBN 978-2-89503-720-0 © 2015

Tempo of Three Quartered

1993 | 9 mins | for three eight-part guitar orchestras

Commissioned by the Northumberland International Guitar Summer School with funds from Northumberland County Council. First performed 6th August 1993, The Queen’s Hall, Hexham.

Under Milk Wood Variations

1989 | 14 mins | for four guitars and (optional) narrator

First Voice
Mr Mog Edwards and Miss Myfanwy Price
Lord Cut-Glass
Captain Cat and Rosie Probert
Mrs Dai Bread Two
Mr Waldo

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Commissioned for the TETRA guitar Quartet by the Dylan Thomas Society of Great Britain. First performed at St John’s, Smith Square, London, 24th Ferbuary 1990. Recorded on TETRA (Tantallon CDDB2 © 1991). Published by Editions Orphée 494-02831 (EICM-21) © 2009. Recorded on Landscape and Memory, Deux-Elles (DXL 1202© 2024).