El Cuchi Bien Temperado : Pablo Marquez(G)

Gustavo Cuchi Leguizamn (1917-2000) was a unique figure in the musical culture of Argentina. Born in Salta (where guitarist Pablo Mrquez was raised), Leguizamn was a poet, composer, pianist and guitarist, a popular artist and a highly sophisticated musician. He was rooted in Argentina's traditional music, but also brought a new harmonic freedom to it, inspired by classical music and by 20th century composers including Debussy, Ravel and Schoenberg. The title of Mrquez's album makes reference to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, and the guitarist here similarly arranges Cuchi's music for all 24 major and minor keys. Pablo Mrquez: To provide a wealth of colours I set myself the challenge of never repeating any key... It was my way of enriching folk practice, and also a reflection of my classical training in this encounter with traditional music.