Michal Bylina writes: “With these words starts the first of a series of novels by Arturo Perez Reverte titled “Capitán Alatriste”. Its’ main character, a Spanish soldier and man of fortune living in the 17th-century quickly became my main inspiration for writing this Suite.
The music describes best the life of the man and the spirit of that time – the time of Spain’s greatest flourishes and expansion. It tells a story full of glory, grief, victories, sorrow, joy and longing – feelings that accompanied men like Alatriste constantly.
The music was originally written by Gaspar Sanz, before 1674, and published in “Instrucción de música sobre la Guitarra Española”. Having heard these compositions and having read the books I instantly associated one to another and decided to create a Suite by choosing my favourite tunes out of it and thus let us, double bassists, experience and travel in time back to Spanish Baroque.”