About Roland Dyens

Roland Dyens (1955-2016) was a French guitarist, composer, and arranger, widely regarded as one of the most significant classical guitarists of his era. Born in Tunis, he began studying guitar at the age of nine, later refining his skills with the renowned Spanish guitarist Alberto Ponce. He also served as a professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Dyens was celebrated for his extraordinary improvisational abilities, a characteristic that often infused his compositions, which were said to frequently originate as improvisations later transcribed. In 2015, the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) honored him with the prestigious “Artistic Achievement Award” for his monumental contributions to the development of classical guitar art and life.

Selected Discography:

• 1987: Villa-Lobos: Concerto/Suite Populaire Bresilienne/Choros, No. 1/Dyens: Hommage a Villa-Lobos
• 1995: Chansons Françaises 1 (also known as Paris Guitare)
• 1997: Paris Guitare
• 1999: Nuages: Solo Guitar Works
• 2001: Roland Dyens: Citrons doux
• 2001: 20 Lettres Pour Guitare Solo
• 2003: Night and Day
• 2007: Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Dyens: Concerto métis
• 2007: Sor & Giuliani
• 2009: Naquele Tempo
• 2015: Night and Day/Visite au Jazz

Most Noted Original Compositions:

• Tango en Skaï (1985): One of his most famous pieces, often performed in versions for guitar and string quartet. “Skaï” is a French slang term for artificial leather, referring to the “gauchos” (cowboys) of Argentina and Southern Brazil, known for their leather attire.
• Libra Sonatine (1986): Divided into three movements (“India”, “Largo”, and “Fuoco”), this sonatina was composed by Dyens after experiencing a heart attack and explicitly reflects that period of his life.
• Valse en Skaï: Dedicated to guitarist Aniello Desiderio, it’s another of his highly regarded original works.
• Trois Pièces Polyglottes: These compositions explore different musical “languages,” reflecting his versatility. They include “Sols d’Ièze,” “Valse des Loges” (Green Room Waltz), and “Perruques Volantes” (Flying Wigs).
• Hommage à Villa-Lobos
• Concertomaggio: An homage to Ravel, Sor, and Piazzolla, for two guitars and string orchestra.
• Concerto Métis: For solo guitar and string orchestra.
• 20 Lettres pour guitare solo: Pieces suitable for various levels of guitar proficiency.
• Songe Capricorne: A composition that explores descriptive elements beyond earthly boundaries.
• Triaela
• Trois Saudades (with “Saudade No. 3” dedicated to Francis Kleynjans and divided into “Ritual,” “Danza,” and “Final”).
• Lettre encore
• Ville d’Avril: For four guitars.

Most Noted Arrangements:

Dyens created numerous arrangements spanning classical music to jazz and popular tunes. Among the most celebrated are:

• Chansons Françaises: Several volumes of arrangements of popular French songs, such as “Revoir Paris,” “Syracuse,” and “La Bicyclette.”
• Aria (from H. Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras nº5): Originally for guitar quintet, but also arranged for solo guitar.
• Arrangements à l’amiable: Includes arrangements of pieces like “Round Midnight” (Thelonious Monk), “Nuages” (Django Reinhardt), works by Chopin and Erik Satie, “El Choclo” (Villoldo), and “Felicidade” (De Moraes/Jobim).
• Over the Rainbow: Arrangement of Harold Arlen’s famous piece.
• “7 Études de Sor”: Arrangements for guitar and string quartet.
• Due famose melodie popolari per mandolino e chitarra: Include “Alfonsina y el mar” and “O sole mio.”
• The Bolero of Ravel: Arranged for guitar ensemble.

Work on Astor Piazzolla’s Arrangements:

Roland Dyens’s work on arranging the compositions of Astor Piazzolla is of paramount importance and deserves special recognition.

Dyens was a master at taking works by other composers and infusing them with his unique sensibility, combining technical virtuosity with a profound musical understanding. This ability is exceptionally evident in his arrangements of Astor Piazzolla’s works, the genius of “Tango Nuevo.”

Dyens skillfully translated the complexity and emotional intensity of Piazzolla’s music for the guitar, often retaining the harmonic and contrapuntal richness of the originals, while adapting them idiomatically to the instrument. His arrangements have become a benchmark for classical guitarists worldwide, offering new and stimulating interpretations of Piazzolla’s masterpieces.

One of his most notable contributions in this field is the album and sheet music collection titled:

• “The Last Tango” (Musics of Astor Piazzolla arranged for guitar by Roland Dyens): This collection features some of Piazzolla’s most iconic pieces, including:
  • Adiós Nonino
  • Chau Paris
  • Chiquilín de Bachín
  • Libertango
  • Oblivion
  • Milonga del Ángel
  • Primavera Porteña
  • Verano Porteño
  • Otoño Porteño
  • Invierno Porteño

These arrangements are admired for their faithfulness to Piazzolla’s original spirit, while also being enriched by Dyens’s unmistakable jazz harmonies and improvisational flair. They are technically demanding yet incredibly rewarding for both the performer and the listener, and they have significantly contributed to making Piazzolla’s music even more accessible and popular in the classical guitar world. Their publication was considered a “parting gift” from the late master of arrangement.

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