Prelude

"Prelude” was born from a moment of improvisation centered around an A major chord with a persistent drone bass. The piece presents a unique challenge to performers, requiring them to maintain the consistent timbre of the A bass while transitioning between open strings and fretted notes. Throughout the composition, emphasis is placed on sustaining and allowing notes to ring out, creating a rich and resonant sonic landscape. However, the piece also features chromatic sections where this sustained quality is momentarily interrupted. As performers navigate these changes, they embark on a musical journey that explores the interplay between continuity and divergence, resulting in a captivating and immersive listening experience.

Gabriel Diaz (b. 1998) is a Cuban/French-Canadian guitarist and composer based in Vancouver, B.C. He credits his father for introducing him to music which, at a young age, paved the way for his eclectic compositional style. Diaz's first band, Goons, was once described as “alternative jazz rap", and his following bands, Mind Offline and SQWATR, each had drastic and unique stylistic differences. Diaz earned his Bachelor of Music from Vancouver Community College under the tutelage of guitarist Adrian Verdejo. Additional lessons and masterclasses with Rene Izquierdo, Patrick Roux, Jason Vieux, and Jerome Ducharme have also been influential to his playing and writing.