12 Etudes, Philip Glass

Here is a selection of twelve piano Etudes, composed by Philip Glass and arranged for two guitars. These arrangements are the result of more than two years of work, and each one was tested in concert as a duo before being published. The main concern in their creation was to make them sound as if the Etudes were originally written for guitar: to this end, some (No. 1, No. 4, and No. 18) were transposed, others use unusual tunings (6th string tuned to C in Etude No. 20, 6th string tuned to D# in No. 18, 3rd string tuned to F in No. 4); many of the Etudes feature the very guitaristic technique of rasgueados (Etudes No. 1, No. 4, No. 6, and No. 17), and the guitar’s harmonics bring a magical touch to certain pieces (Etudes No. 2, No. 17, and No. 20). These Etudes offer very contrasting characters: dazzling virtuosity, hypnotic repetitions, moving themes, mesmerizing arpeggios… although the singular genius of Philip Glass can be felt in each of them.

Etudes arranged: No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 16, No. 17, No. 18, No. 20.

The sheet music is available only in standard notation. Great care has been taken to ensure ease of page turns, and to indicate fingerings, dynamics, tempos, etc.