TheLos Angeles Guitar Quartet(LAGQ) is an American classical guitar ensemble that was formed in 1980. It consists ofJohn Dearman,William Kanengiser,Douglas Lora (who replacedScott Tennantat the end of 2023[1]) and Matthew Greif (who replacedAndrew Yorkat the end of 2006). They play nylon string guitars to imitate a variety of instruments and effects.
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Classical |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Delos,Sony,Telarc |
| Members |
|
| Past members | |
| Website | www |
They have played in many styles:baroque,bluegrass,flamenco,rock,andnew-age.The quartet received aGrammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Albumin2005forGuitar Heroes.
Background
editAnisa Angarolaassembled the quartet in 1980 at the University of Southern California with help from guitaristPepe Romero.In 1990Andrew Yorkreplaced Angarola. In 2006 York was replaced by Matthew Greif. The group's first album included works byHolst,Rossini,andStravinsky.Although primarily a classical ensemble, the group dabbles in other genres. The albumGuitar Heroesincluded music byChet Atkins,Sergio Assad,Steve Howe,andPat Metheny.The group has played classical music from the Baroque, Classical, Renaissance, Romantic, and modern periods.[2]
Scott Tennanthas recorded albums of the guitar works ofJoaquín Rodrigo[2]and theCeltic musicof England, Ireland and Scotland. He has taught at the University of Southern California and has written method books for classical guitar.John Dearmanplays a custom guitar with an added bass string and extended fretboard. He has taught atEl Camino Collegeand theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara.
William Kanengiserhas arranged works for the quartet, including theHungarian Rhapsody No. 2byFranz Lisztand thegamelanpiece "Gongan". He has taught at the University of Southern California and is a graduate of theUSC Thornton School of Music.[3]
Awards and honors
editDiscography
edit- Praetorius, Bach, Stravinsky, Debussy, Falla(Orpharion, 1983[4])
- El Amor Brujo(GHA, 1990[5])
- L.A. Guitar Quartet Recital(GHA, 1991)
- Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker(Delos,1992)
- Evening in Granada(Delos, 1993)
- Manuel de Falla: El Amor Brujo(GHA, 1994)
- Labyrinth(Delos, 1995)
- For Thy Pleasure(Delos, 1996)
- L.A.G.Q.(Sony,1998)
- Air and Ground(Sony, 2000)
- LAGQ Latin(Telarc,2002)
- Guitar Heroes(Telarc, 2004)
- Spin(Telarc, 2006)
- Brazil(Telarc, 2007)
- Interchange: Concertos by Rodrigo and Assad(Telarc, 2010)
- Boccherini: Guitar Quintets(Red Bus, 2011)
- New Renaissance(Burnside/Lagq, 2015)[6]
- Opalescent(2022)
Articles
edit- Interview (1987), by Paul Magnussen[7]
References
edit- ^"News".July 31, 2024.
- ^abcdCummings, Robert."Los Angeles Guitar Quartet".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 30,2018.
- ^Ljiljana Grubisic,Thornton Faculty, Alums Win GrammysArchivedFebruary 26, 2009, at theWayback Machine,USC Public Relations, March 12, 2007, Accessed March 4, 2009.
- ^https:// discogs /release/14763141-The-Los-Angeles-Guitar-Quartet-Praetorius-Bach-Stravinsky-Debussy-Falla[bare URL]
- ^https:// discogs /release/28431259-The-Los-Angeles-Guitar-Quartet-El-Amor-Brujo[bare URL]
- ^"Los Angeles Guitar Quartet | Album Discography | AllMusic".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 29,2018.
- ^Interview (1987)