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Austrian label ATS-Records proudly announces the release of Open Windows,
Christopher Barber's new solo guitar CD. Barber, a native of upstate New York, is a
guitarist, composer and music educator based in Vienna. His music is many-faceted and
yet highly personal, bringing together a wealth of influences and experiences to make a
distinctive artistic statement.
“I wanted to do a CD using only the nylon-string guitar. Years before I moved to
Europe, when I was studying music in the USA, I learned classical guitar. Although I've
played all kinds of music, often using electric guitars, this instrument has remained my
preference,” comments Christopher Barber. “Open Windows focuses on my own
compositions. Most of the eleven tracks gravitate between worlds that are usually fenced
in using categories like 'Jazz' or 'Classical'. But music flows like water, and it can just as
well be described with words like 'earthy' or 'conceptual'. I hope that the four pieces by
other composers will help listeners as points of orientation.” Heitor Villa-Lobos and
Antônio Carlos Jobim, both of whom have had a profound influence on Barber's music
and his approach to the guitar, are certainly familiar to anyone interested in the music of
Brazil. The Cuban Leo Brouwer – he recently celebrated his eightieth birthday and is
still going strong – creates works combining compositional rigor with a refreshing
openness to the sounds of our time. Finally, Sidney Bechet’s Petite Fleur pays homage
to the great African-American musical heritage that Barber grew up with in the USA.
Open Windows is available on all major digital distribution platforms. Yet
acquiring the lovingly produced CD is recommendable, especially on account of the
informative booklet text (English/German). Here Christopher Barber writes about his
personal motivations, inspirations and experiences while shedding light on the cultures
and traditions behind the music.
“The pieces of music I love most are open windows – for the ears, for the mind.”
