Reinventing Guitar is “… a guitar edition that changes the flow of the history of the instrument.” Thus did Jazz & Tzaz describe Smaro Gregoriadou’s pioneering first album for Delos. She now continues her groundbreaking mission in 'Reinventing Guitar II'.

Smaro’s extensive research has revealed significant differences between the modern classical guitar and those of the Renaissance and Baroque periods – encompassing instrumental design and construction, string materials used, number of string courses, wide-ranging tuning schemes, etc. Such extensive variants make for a broad array of tonal qualities and colours as well as different technical and interpretive approaches.

Playing modern replicas of period instruments built by luthier Yorgos Kertsopoulos, Smaro performs transcriptions of well-known music by Bach, Handel and Scarlatti with exceptional skill and panache. Such “reinvented” guitars enable her to demonstrate many different tonal and interpretive possibilities of the period that – until now – have gone unheard.

All the works have been arranged by Gregoriadou for double-course pedal guitar and single-stringed scalloped pedal guitar (soprano/alto version).

This release – as Classical Sentinel said of her first album – is certain to become “A fascinating CD for any classical music enthusiasts; a definite must-have for any serious classical guitar fans.”

Reference Track: Analytical presentation of all tunings; samples of program pieces performed on the standard classical guitar in nylon trebles and ordinary tuning.