So Many Guitarists, So Few Works : CSUN quartet must adapt string classics to find enough pieces to perform

Though an aspiring young pianist or an emerging string quartet faces many challenges, a lack of repertory isn’t one of them. But the CSUN Guitar Quartet, along with having to worry about getting engagements, must deal with simply finding enough works to play.

Some results of the student quartet’s continuing search will be performed at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 in a concert featuring an English Renaissance lute suite, contemporary works and new guitar transcriptions of string quartets by Beethoven and Bartok.

Because of the instrument’s restricted range and the fact that it can’t sustain notes, “people have a hard time writing for guitar,” said quartet member Keith Calmes. “It takes a lot of time to study.”

As a result, it has become necessary to rework music originally intended for other instruments, such as lutes, violins or even ouds.

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Arranging part of a Bartok string quartet--among the thorniest works in contemporary music--for guitar might seem odd, but Ronald Purcell, guitar professor at Cal State Northridge, eased the transition by choosing the fourth movement of the String Quartet No. 4, which is entirely pizzicato.

“It fits really well on the guitar,” said Calmes, 23, “although it’s a pretty heavy arrangement--all of the chords are revoiced,” or redistributed among the players. Still, the job was easier than the transcription of an early Beethoven quartet, Op. 18, No. 5, which requires the use of a requinto, a smaller guitar, to play the highest notes.

The quartet isn’t the first to grapple with the question of using transcriptions to augment the guitar repertory. Japanese guitarist Kazuhito Yamashita rankled some purists with his version of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” a set of piano pieces that has become an orchestral showpiece in its orchestration by Ravel.

“One side of me says transcriptions should be very strict, guitar and lute,” Calmes said. “The other side says, like Yamashita, that the repertory is so small, why don’t we play all music?”

Another transcription, Turina’s “La Horacion del Torero,” will be premiered at the concert. Calmes said it fits easily on guitar because although it has been arranged for string quartet, it was originally written for four ouds, a stringed instrument found in the Middle East and North Africa. Even so, the musicians were forced to adapt their playing because ouds are played with a great deal of tremolo.

Among the contemporary works on the program are the premiere of “Three Studies” by CSUN composition professor Frank Campo and a work by Czech composer Stepan Rak, “a very passionate . . . radical and noisy work,” Calmes said.

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Like other aspiring groups, the quartet, which also includes Jordan Charnofsky, Jeff Miley and Rick Stollman, has been trying to book concerts. The four began playing together in 1983 while taking a chamber music course but only gave their first full-length concert 1 1/2 years ago.

This summer, they were among 60 ensembles to compete in a contest sponsored by the Japanese booking agency Menon. Although they weren’t among the finalists, they gained experience simply by taking part, Calmes said.

“It was worthwhile,” he said of the competition. “It’s hard to work so hard and not make the finals, but it’s good to hear what you’re up against.”

The quartet will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 in the Recital Hall at CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff St. Tickets are $12; $48 for the six-concert American Guitar Society series.

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Cellist Joyce Geeting and pianist Norman Shetler will give a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 25448 Via Alcira in Valencia.

The recital, part of a series sponsored by Chamber Music Plus of Canyon Country, will feature Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major, Brahms’ Sonata, Op. 78, and Hindemith’s “Capriccio,” “Phantasiestuck” and “Scherzo.”

Since the recital is at a private home, seating will be limited to about 40. Information and tickets are available at (805) 255-1191. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $1 for children 12 and under.