Martin Lloyd Howard's newest original piece for solo classical guitar, "Selene", takes listeners to a place between shadow. Howard turns visual art into sound with amazing sensitivity, and he got the idea from a painting of a moonscape that his wife made. The piece starts like a quiet nocturne, carefully shaped to evoke pale, glowing moonlight moving across a restless sky. There is a sense of soft movement throughout, as if clouds pass by the moon's light, covering and revealing its beauty. The music is alive and breathing, both wide and close.
Howard's choice to set the work in G minor gives the guitar a darker sound, adding to the emotional depth without making it too heavy. Instead, the piece shines from the inside out. Each phrase is carefully chosen to reflect how light and shadow interact, just as the Ancient Greek goddess of the moon, whose name is the phrase. The mythological reference adds depth without being overbearing, instead, it subtly shifts the mood.
The most interesting thing about "Selene" is how clear its purpose is. This is not just a technical study of an unusual key signature, it is a poetic meditation played on nylon strings. The guitar becomes both a canvas and a brush, turning the stillness of night and the movement of drifting clouds into a soundscape that feels almost real.
Martin Lloyd Howard's "Selene" is a piece that makes you think, evokes feelings, and is beautifully self-contained. The music makes you want to stop, look up, and get lost in silver light.