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For complete details on concerts, residencies and other events, see CALENDAR.

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Challenging Times
 

As the Corona Virus is rapidly advancing around the globe and nearly everything in our lives has come to a full stop, we must vigilantly continue all recommended health precautions and help those in need.

We must also remain vigilant in our faith that in time, together we will get through this difficult period.

Obviously among those heavily impacted in their careers and livelihoods are performing artists, venues, technical crews and other support staff. Broadway shows are shuttered closed. All concert, festival and club performances have been cancelled, leaving musicians and their community devastated with no clear idea when things will return to “normal”- i.e., if there will EVER be any such return to pre-pandemic conditions. From here forward, we will be living in a very different world.

Every school and university is closed through the academic year. Lifelong music educators like myself are now teaching all classes online, which presents unique challenges. Some major universities are already indicating that they may forego a fall semester and resume classes in January.

The relentless stress from this pandemic is hitting everyone from so many directions at once: limited access to lifesaving health services (and the heroic job of all health workers despite lacking proper personal protection), basic access to food and shelter, the economic devastation of small businesses and 20+% unemployment within the last month.

We will get through this crisis, however the socio-economic impact will be deep and protracted. It will demand continuously strong vision and leadership at the federal, state and local level. This is not a time for political posturing- it is time to save lives and restore the future of millions who have been devastated by this virus and we as a country not being ready to deal with it.

It is times like these when MUSIC and the ARTS in general can and MUST continue to serve a vital role in our own recovery: economic, professional, social, spiritual and psychological.

I remain firmly dedicated to creating, sharing and teaching music through whatever means are available to our world community of artists. We must all heal ourselves and each other for the short and long term as this pandemic unravels.

Please visit my site often for all updates.

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PERFORMANCES & BROADCASTS 

Diálogos Duo

Premiere of "A Dozen Choro Tributes"
presented by the NYC Classical Guitar Society

Complete concert VIDEO and AUDIO is on the DUO HOMEPAGE.

BROADCASTS

Live Tracks from the premiere will be broadcast on:

American Public Radio's "Performance Today" hosted by FRED CHILD.

STREAMING on demand Tues. May 26 - June 25

LISTEN to HOUR #2, starting at 44:45 (click on green timeline bar).

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• RECORDINGS •

NEW CD: "CHORO TRIBUTES"

The Duo has just completed recording "A Dozen Choro Tributes", the featured work for our second CD, "Choro Tributes".

CD RELEASE CONCERTS are in the planning stages.

The main CD RELEASE EVENT will be hosted by the BRAZILIAN CONSULATE OF NEW YORK. Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, it is Diálogos Duo’s intention to make our newest and most important new work accessible to the public, including

CHORO TRIBUTES is now available to:

* preview tracks 

* purchase digital download and CD

* read composer commentary and view cover art

* learn about the Duo’s virtual academic residencies
 

We sincerely appreciate your support of our work as we and all musicians around the globe are navigating uncharted waters.

For the latest updates:

JOIN THE DUO E MAIL LIST and receive our periodic DIGITAL NEWSLETTER.

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• CD REVIEWS •

Diálogos Duo

CLARINET JOURNAL   
(International Clarinet Association)

"The performers give lovely renditions of these works. Louis Arques plays with a refined sound on both soprano and bass clarinets. Boukas is an excellent guitarist. While all of his compositions have a stylistic basis in traditional Brazilian popular music, they reflect his own more complex artistic sensibility. Perhaps this is nova brasilidade, in the same spirit as Piazzola's tango nuevo."

 

RIFFTIDES by DOUG RAMSEY

 

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• NEW COMPOSITIONS • 

• EMBOLADA, an extended piece composed for the brilliant clarinet quartet SOPROS de PE, from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. I met the ensemble at this year's ICA CONVENTION (Int'l Clarinet Assoc.).

• ILLUMINADO, commissioned by guitarist Joe Carter for the annual Jobim Festival VII at Sacred Heart University (Fairfield CT). The tribute to Jobim was to be performed by alto flutist Ali Ryerson and Carter, professor and director of music programs at the university. However, the festival and premiere of my piece was canceled due to the health crisis.

DIÁLOGOS DUO 

• "Three Choros for Bass Clarinet and Guitar" which are adaptations of existing choros originally scored for larger ensembles. 

• "Cantos do Nordeste" featuring the rich and diverse genres from Brazil's Northeast.
The work will consist of fifteen movements, including solo guitar interludes.

As with all previous suites, each movement is a tribute to an illustrious Brazilian composer/musician:

Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Sivuca, Hermeto Pascoal, Spok Frevo, Capiba, Pé de Serra, Dominguinhos, Nations (nações) of Maracatu among others.

There are now fifty pieces composed for Diálogos Duo since its founding in fall 2016.
When completed, Cantos do Nordeste will expand our repertoire to sixty-five pieces.

• I am preparing several adaptations of Duo repertoire for clarinetist-professor Victor Chávez and pianist Eunsuk Jung. Both faculty at Univ. Tennessee/Knoxville. The adapted repertoire will be performed in the future. I met professor Chávez last July year at ClarinetFest 2019, where Diálogos performed. 

VISIT the ICA PAGE

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 • EDUCATION •

Online:
SUMMER WORKSHOP SERIES
in Brazilian Music

Currently in the planning stages, an online series of Brazilian music workshops will be offered to musicians and appreciators around the globe. Using Zoom, high quality audio and musical handouts, areas covered will include guitar styles, regional genres, composers and other aspects.

STAY TUNED for DATES!!

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CHORO TRIBUTES CD Educational Content

• PLAYALONG AUDIO TRACKS & VIDEOS 

Special playalong remixes of the new CD will be available in the near future.

Packaged together with complete scores and parts, this valuable audio resource will allow clarinetists and guitarists to practice duo playing with the repertoire on the CD.

• VIDEO SERIES 
Richard Boukas will produce and release a comprehensive video series delving into the stylistic and technical aspects of the guitar writing for each of the 12 choros on the CD.

Stay tuned for projected release dates of these new and exciting resources.

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• PRIVATE STUDY NEWS •

• My PRIVATE TEACHING In-Studio and Online continues to serve a broad community of musicians around the globe.

For more INFO on REMOTE STUDY and PREPAID BLOCK RATE DISCOUNTS see my PRIVATE STUDY PAGE.
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Thank you for your interest and support during these very challenging times, and I look forward to sharing exciting new creative and educational events with you in the near future.

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Musically,

Richard Boukas