"Suite South America is based on a piece written for the Czech guitar virtuoso Vladislav Blaha. He contacted me wanting something for accordion with guitar accompaniment that had a South American flavor. As a composer I have always admired the compositions and performances of Astor Piazzola, so inspired by his legacy and Blaha's request I started to work on this project.
Not so very long after the piece was finished I was invited to perform at the Miami International Guitar Festival and was encouraged by festival director Rene Gonzalez to perform my own compositions. Thinking that Suite South America might be well received in Miami I rearranged the melody line for my long time duo partner flutist Jim Zellers and we premiered the piece on March 16, 2005.
All 3 movements of Suite South America follow an ABA form but with much more complicated slower B sections, even in the fast movements. There are alternate themes slipped in here and there in each movement and eventually the return of each opening theme gives way to a coda that closes the movement."
Rex Willis - August 9, 2005
