Music Reviews : Guitarist Michael Murphy in Recital at Brand Library

With a refreshingly honest presentation tempered by a generous supply of fortitude, guitarist Michael Murphy, 23, made his Southland debut in a solo recital Friday night at the Brand Library in Glendale.

Although nervousness often made difficult passages and reaches even more difficult, Murphy’s admirable perseverance yielded performances that were both provocative and sensitive.

Unfortunately, odd temperature conditions kept the hall on the cold side, while heat from lights on a perspiring Murphy often caused his guitar to go out of tune. Nevertheless, he stayed poised throughout, often freely conversing and joking with the audience.

He was in his best element with transcriptions of Renaissance lute pieces, five by Francesco Canova da Milano and one by John Dowland. A transcription of a piece by Luys de Narvaez for the vihuela --another Renaissance string instrument--similarly allowed him to savor simple contrapuntal lines and harmonies.

But he was in over his head with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Tarantella,” even if he could get all the notes. Murphy’s technique is still not mature enough to glide smoothly through the intricacies of this virtuosic piece without stumbling and sounding stiff.

Two “Estudios” by Fernando Sor provided pleasant examples of Murphy’s mellow, straightforward approach, as did Mozart’s Larghetto and Allegro, K.299. Two tentatively performed flamenco pieces, Sabicas’ “Soleares” and Paco de Lucia’s “Tarantas,” gave him some genuine stylistic problems.

Finishing off the evening was an encore by Issac Albeniz.