Reid Recital Touches Many Eras

Thu., Oct. 7, 1999

William Berry Correspondent

Moscow classical guitarist James Reid will perform at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Sunday afternoon.

The University of Idaho professor will play his own compositions as well as music from his latest CD, released earlier this year.

The disc, “Sounds of the Bard,” features selections from the large Opus 13 collection of Johann Kaspar Mertz. Mertz was a 19th-century Hungarian guitarist who, upon moving to Vienna in 1840, was proclaimed that musical city’s finest exponent of the instrument.

Mertz’ compositions seem simple and folk-like, but are well-crafted bits of Romanticism with sophisticated harmonic interest. Reid manages them beautifully on his recording.

The recital will include music from various eras, including pieces by John Dowland, Fernando Sor and Abel Carlevaro. Reid will also perform his own work, “Four Portraits,” written earlier this year.

Reid has performed all over the United States and Canada, and has been featured at festivals such as the Portland Guitar Festival, Guitar New Orleans, The Guitar and Lute Institute, the Elkhorn Festival and the Fairbanks Summer Music Festival. He has commissioned several works for the guitar, and his 1997 disc, “Higher Ground,” including premieres by several American composers.

ON STAGE James Reid Guitarist James Reid performs Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Tickets: $10, available at the door.

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