Groningen Guitar Duo

The Groningen Guitar Duo from Holland started its Music Network/ESB tour of Ireland at the Coach House, Dublin Castle, on Wednesday night. Strengths of this concert included the players' musicianship and technical security, and the flair of their arrangements - the best for guitar duo I have heard.

Remco de Haan and Erik Westerhof understand, as few player-arrangers for guitar do, that merely transferring the notes is not enough. In three early piano pieces by Debussy, melody was passed between the players or doubled in unison, while lower parts were treated with complementary variety. Such arrangements show insight, and this impression was reinforced by the command of colour, tone and layered textures.

It was good to hear one work from Ireland. Five of Joseph Groocock's eight Canons for Two Guitars were played with exquisite attention to detail. Less absorbing was Thirty-five Mescals in Cuautla, written for these musicians by Jacob ter Velhuis. Its "audience friendly" (the players' description), minimalistic repetitions and disconnected sections were as under-whelming as background music.

Nevertheless, the duo seemed more at home with this music's contemporaneity than with Bach's Suite in E minor, BWV 996, which was proficient but routine. They were also at home in their arrangements of pieces by the jazz guitarist, John McLaughlin, played with free panache and flawless ensemble. Indeed, it was quality in the playing, rather than the programme, which made this concert work.

The Groningen Guitar Duo plays in Monaghan (February 6th), Boyle (7th), New Ross (9th), Tinahely (10th), Ballymoney (11th), Bangor (12th), Downpatrick (13th), Donaman Castle (14th) and Limavady (15th). For details, tel 01 671 9429.