Guitar Partita

Guitar Partita, composed by Graham Whettam for guitar solo in digital sheet music format [EP72366].

Partita for Solo Guitar is a 23-minute work in four movements (Preludio ‒ Scherzo Spiritoso ‒ Canto del Bardo ‒ Finale Fuocoso). It was written in 1968 and revised in 1989, after the composer was persuaded to release it following his use of an idea from the Partita in his Serenade for Viola (or Clarinet) and Guitar.

The original manuscript of this work was begun in the spring of 1967, around the time of my youngest son Julian’s birth, and was completed on 20 March 1968. It thereafter lay forgotten for many years, until I adapted an idea from it when writing the Serenade for Viola (or Clarinet) and Guitar. It was after the publication of this latter work that Graham Wade persuaded me to show him the Partita, which he subsequently performed, thereby convincing me that it should duly be published. The music has been completely revised and rewritten for that purpose, and it is this latter manuscript which is reproduced in facsimile here. In a work of such duration, the practicality for the player of turning over pages is of great importance, and appropriate attention has been given to this problem. I would particularly like to thank Graham Wade both for his enthusiasm in persuading me to release this music, and for his help in proof-reading the ensuing pages.

Graham Whettam

December 1989