Classical Guitarist Renaud Côté-Giguère Named Finalist in Portugal International Guitar Composition Competition

January 31, 2020

Classical guitarist Renaud Côté-Giguère, of Local 406 (Montreal, PQ), was named one of 15 finalists in the Portugal International Guitar Composition Competition, and recently traveled to Seixal, Portugal to participate in the final competition round. Côté-Giguère was the only participant from Canada and one of only two participants from North America.

The first round of the competition was through video recording, while the second and final round occurred in Portugal on January 14. The competition occurred in front of a small crowd and a jury of six well-respected guitarists and composers from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Serbia, and Portugal.

Côté-Giguère says it was “a great experience to perform alongside some of the best guitar composers in the world. I especially enjoyed discovering the music of the tango guitarist Nacho Eguia and the contemporary Venezualan composer Endel Ranger Vielma.”

Côté-Giguère presented his original composition called “Les années syncopées” (“the syncopated years”). It starts with an introspective movement called “L’heure mécanique,” in which syncopations are treated as irregular surprising rhythms, in a similar manner as rain rhythms. The second movement exploits syncopation in the style of jazz music, with complex meter changes. This movement is called “La Gare” and is inspired by a train rhythm heard in Parry Sound, ON.

Côté-Giguère says he looks forward to keeping in touch with the fellow composers he met during his trip, and he will soon start working on a new solo guitar piece for next year’s competition.