South African Music for Guitar Duo

On Sunday, August 25th at 3 PM we welcome to Shed & Silo Country Restaurant the celebrated guitar duo, Duo su Sud, comprised of Carl Straussner and Raley Beggs, presenting a musically diverse recital.

South African classical guitarist Carl Straussner is active as composer, teacher, and recording engineer, currently based in Johannesburg. He completed his studies with Eliot Fisk at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Carl has two albums under his belt as producer / recording engineer, and has worked on albums for such artists as Duo Amie and Adam Levin. As composer, he received a fellowship from the historic St. Botolph Club of Boston, collaborating with artists from different disciplines in performances.

American guitarist Raley Beggs is an active performer and pedagogue. He completed his studies at Florida State University and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Raley has taught at Bridgewater State University and Middlesex Community College, and is founding guitarist at EKS Music School. Additionally, Raley also served as competition director for the prestigious annual Boston Guitarfest.

In compiling their programme, Duo du Sud has selected music from multiple centuries to display the wide-ranging diversity of their ensemble.

The English Renaissance period is represented with music by two lutenists, Thomas Robinson and Robert Johnson, the latter who is believed to have collaborated with William Shakespeare in creating music for some of his later plays, including The Tempest.

Moving forward chronologically to the Baroque period, we encounter individual works by German composers J.H. Kapsberger, G.P. Telemann, and J.S. Bach, as well as the Suite Espagnola by Spanish composer Gaspar Sanz. The Classical period is represented with guitar duets by another Spanish composer, Fernando Sor.

From the Contemporary period, we are treated to Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Touré’s classic work entitled ’56, in an arrangement by Derek Gripper, as well as a selection of works by the celebrated South African classical guitarist and composer David Hewitt: Igoli-City of Gold / Notsokolo, Slow Train, and Street Beat.

Join us at Shed & Silo Country Restaurant at Norton’s Home Estate, Benoni on Sunday, August 25th, at 3 PM for an afternoon of exquisite beauty in the company of the world’s most beautiful guitar music.

If you want to enjoy a delectable lunch at Shed and Silo Country Restaurant before the concert, we highly recommend making a reservation.

Tickets, as always, are available at Quicket.

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