In this lesson on the final movement of Antonio Jose’s powerful Sonata, Zoran Dukic ties it all together with his thoughts on this marvelous and intense piece of music. Beginning with a bang, the unusual structure of this movement alternates between toccata-like scale runs, quotes from the first movement, and bridges that introduce new material. Since printed editions differ considerably, Zoran doesn’t try to give every option for each note, but instead gives the performer the definitive guide for creating an exciting experience for an audience. He goes through fingering techniques and practice exercises for the fast scales, suggesting careful and slow double-dotted practice to build synchronization. Many interpretive decisions are, of course, up to the individual artist, but Zoran emphasizes the importance of having a clear direction in mind and exaggerating it to aid in both interpretation and technique. Finally, Zoran connects technique to emotion- detailing specific instances where slurs, dampening, or negative string crossings create feelings of passion, excitement, or risk-taking. Hopefully this piece, one of Zoran’s personal all-time favorites, takes you on an exciting journey!

For the first of four lessons on each movement of Antonio José’s Sonata, Zoran Dukic begins with historical background around the life of the composer and the disappearance of his manuscripts for almost sixty years. Zoran emphasizes throughout that this piece was composed in a very piano-like style, making it difficult to execute precisely on guitar, but he provides lots of valuable suggestions to make the piece go smoothly. The first movement contains two main themes, each with a motif that develops gradually and brilliantly.

Zoran talks down musical issues surrounding rhythms, fingerings, added and altered notes, as well as the difficulty of playing with a balance of passion and reason. Finally, he concludes with a segment he calls the ‘Situation Room’, where he presents a number of challenging measures and gives secrets for simplifying the musical content while keeping the intention.

For the third movement of Antonio Jose’s Sonata, Zoran Dukic discusses the importance of getting deep into the appropriate mood of this piece. Technically, this is accomplished by having a clear idea about the meaning of the piece, and controlling note length, tempo, and dynamics accordingly. Zoran also emphasizes expressive elements like vibrato and rubato, and the pitfalls to avoid while implementing them. Since lots of Jose’s writing is very difficult or impossible on the guitar, Zoran offers revisions and tips that improve the playability.

Throughout the piece, it’s important to look for fingerings that create the exact sound you’re looking for, and that help make your interpretation unique. Finally, Zoran explains each section in terms of the emotional impact it should have, and how to create continuity throughout the movement. By the end of this lesson, you’ll know how to develop a personal interpretation of the movement.