ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with projects that had the effect of widening classical guitar repertoire and, in some cases, altering the direction of modern classical guitar history. It focuses on specific projects, mostly collaborative in some way, which increased the range and repertoire of the classical guitar. Perhaps John Williams’ greatest contribution to the standard classical guitar repertoire was his championing of the music of the great Paraguayan guitarist Agustin Barrios Mangore. Williams has made a conscious effort to help with the development of guitar music from his native Australia. He has worked with many Australian composers to commission and also to perform works that have led to the establishment of a definitive Australian guitar sound with Peter Sculthorpe at the forefront. In a short introduction to the piece Sculthorpe remarks that the work reflects his personal response to Nourlangie itself rather than an accurate description of the rock.
