Published in 1979, Reginald Smith Brindle’s “Ten Simple Preludes” have a clear purpose. Of this set, editor John Duarte wrote: “A liberal supply of music smooths the guitarist’s path from beginner to virtuoso in terms of 19th century musical language. There is however, very little to prepare the guitarist for 20th-century music at an early stage; most available music is of higher-intermediate or virtuoso level, bringing problems of execution and comprehension to a student reared on traditional material. Preparation for coming to terms with this century’s music cannot come too soon; it is the music of our time and guitarists no less than other musicians should learn to come to terms with it. I have therefore asked a number of established composers, not necessarily guitarists, to write pieces playable by students no further advanced than Grade Four. Such pieces will make it possible to become used to the sounds of the music without a herculean effort to produce the notes, and players should approach them with open ears and...