Bautista's Preludio y Danza (UME 16953) is the only item previously recorded (by Laurindo Almeida, around

1965), and is available through the Guitar Solo mail-order catalogue. Despite its title, it is far from simplistic, and its
two movements, thematically related, encompass a wide variety of moods and tempi. The "Danza" includes episodes
of "lentamente" recitative among the spirited 5/8 and 3/8 rhythms, and changes character on occasion to quote from
the "Preludio." Technically, it ranks with the more difficult Villa-Lobos 6tudes, and has a crowd-pleasing quality
that could bring it wide, if belated, circulation.
Pittaluga's Homenaje a Mateo Albniz (UME 16920) employs frank--and charming--Neoclassicism in the same vein
as Ravel's experiments, using the resources of the instrument to great advantage. In the Elegia (Homenaje para la
tumba de Murnau) (UME 16954), however, we are on quite different ground. Expressionistic use of chromaticism
and a weird cadenza-like opening featuring brooding, sweeping arrastres introduce a dark and disturbing portrait of
the film maker who, in Nosferatu, gave us the first and most haunting of vampire movies. The pieces make a striking
pair, wildly contrasting as they are.