About Composers
Listed here are details of classical guitar composers who have inspired Bruce Paine to make recordings of their works. This includes friendships which have lead to collaborations and shared performances. This is a labour of love and current work-in-progress. There are gaps and further details will be published as time permits.
Štěpán Rak is a renowned Czech guitarist-composer whose vivid, imaginative works have captivated audiences worldwide. Bruce Paine’s album Second Recital for Guitar features Rak’s Three Russian Waltzes, Remembering Prague and Cry of the Guitar.
Derek Hasted’s Celebration Suite is a joyful, romantic work for solo classical guitar. Performed and first recorded by Bruce Paine, it has delighted audiences in concert, on RNZ Concert radio, and now on streaming platforms worldwide. Written for intermediate to advanced players, the suite combines melodic charm with an uplifting sense of grandeur.
Bruce Paine gave the premiere recording of the piece on his album Second Recital for Guitar.
Argentinian guitar composer Jose Luis Merlin's Suite del Recuerdo is dedicated to the memory of many thousands of "disappeared ones" from the days of the military junta in Argentina. This is very haunting, romantic music, using typical South American folk dances and melodies as the basis of five separate pieces entitled Evocation, Zamba, Chacarera, Carnavalito and Joropo.