John Duarte (1919-2004) was educated at the Manchester University Faculty of Technology. He worked as a professional chemist until 1969, then abandoned chemistry in favor of full-time dedication to music, after having been persuaded by Len Williams, father of John Williams. His only formal musical education consisted in jazz guitar lessons with Terence "Terry" Usher, the rest he learned by self-instruction. He also worked professionally as a player of the trumpet and double bass, and regularly worked as a jazz musician, among others with Coleman Hawkins and Django Reinhardt. Duartes work shows an exceptionally wide range of styles. Some works reflect the Renaissance style of court lutenists such as John Dowland, other works alternate in style between aleatory, atonal and graphic, contained within a conventionally notated framework and allowing spontaneous reaction between the performers. In many other works he employs a tonal language, often colored by the folk music traditions of various nations, and romantic in mood. This fascinating 2-CD set presents both original works as well as transcriptions and arrangements for guitar quartet, including a wide variety of styles and composers, from 16th century Elizabethan chansons to music by Delius and Tchaikovsky, American Broadway songs and Moravian Folk Music, all a testimony of the incredible versatility of Duarte as a composer, arranger and performer. Played by the Quartetto Santorsola.
