Debut Atlantic is thrilled to feature the Canadian Guitar Quartet in our Digital Series. Their concert features two selections, the first written by a founding member of the quartet, Patrick Roux, and the second written by current member Renaud Côté-Giguère. The concert will be released on Friday, December 10th 2021 at 7:30 pm AST, and will be available on our Debut Atlantic YouTube and Facebook channels for a week.

Prologue, Fougue et Allegro Trépidant – Patrick Roux
This is a piece inspired by three composers that Patrick Roux admires: Chopin, Bach and Piazzolla. Patrick Roux was the founding member of the Canadian Guitar Quartet and his music has been at the core of the ensembles programs since it’s beginning. Bach and Chopin’s music were the initial inspiration behind creating the work, and additionally, the Latin-American style of Piazzolla resonates throughout all three movements.

Empty Houses – Renaud Côté-Giguère
Empty Houses is a piece inspired by the music of Brad Mehldau, and refers to the nostalgic feeling of visiting a house where you once have lived. The piece is divided into four movements that are linked by the use of broken melodies, where the melody can only be heard through the combination of all four instruments instead of having separate accompaniment and melodic lines. Renaud Côté-Giguère’s music is often influenced by jazz and this can be heard in the second movement of this piece.

The Canadian Guitar Quartet
Renaud Côté-Giguère – Jérôme Ducharme – Christ Habib – Louis Trépanier

Since its debut in 1999, the Canadian Guitar Quartet has performed on three continents, going from one standing ovation to the next, and established a reputation as one of the finest guitar ensembles in the world.

During its twenty-plus years, the CGQ has released four critically acclaimed CDs while touring extensively in Canada and abroad, appearing in recital, and with orchestra. The CGQ’s first concert at the 92Street Y in New York city, part of the Art of the Guitar series, was extremely well received. Don Witter Jr., of the New York City Classical Guitar Society, wrote: “The Canadian Guitar Quartet made one of the greatest New York City Debuts of any artistic ensemble in
decades…STUNNING !!!”.

As well as performing and recording, the CGQ continues to mentor and direct young guitarists through clinics, masterclasses, and one on one teaching. While personnel changes have occurred over the years, the ensemble has remained committed to its core mission: chamber music at its highest level, presenting a robust mix of clever new arrangements of classical masterworks alongside bold new works for guitar quartet – most often penned by past and present members of the ensemble. The engaging repertoire, performed with the CGQ’s fiery virtuosity, augmented by the players’ easy and congenial rapport with the audience, all make a Canadian Guitar Quartet concert an event to remember.