My Angel

The reviewers say:
Kitchener Waterloo Record:
"...Gauk's powerful presence as a performer shines through in every solo and ensemble track, flowing with the mood of Daniel's music and interpreting his diverse textures with fluent, focused, and beautifully nuanced style. It's no surprise to hear guitar aficionados beginning to call her Canada's new "first lady" of the instrument - a title she's destined to hold well into the next century...

The title track, My Angel, is a delectable and poignant work for soprano and guitar; where Gauk and Whicher blend with a grace and intuition that bears multiple playings. My Angel is a new Canadian recording of admirable diversity and genuine appeal. Highly recommended."
- Pauline Finch Durichen

Winnipeg Free Press:
"Canadian composer Omar Daniel's accessible harmonic language and clear formal structure emerge more as tools for the composer's absorbing emotional honesty than as ends in themselves. Daniel's command of narrative, fertile lyricism and highly idiomatic writing for guitar offer some satisfying journeys here.

The four works were written for Rachel Gauk, a most accomplished guitarist for whom Daniel has been composing for some 10 years. Tientos (1994) has a baroque tang, with fragrant Spanish colours from early Vihuela music. Piangiamo quel crudel basciare (1992) explores an- anonymous 13th century Italian song. My Angel, for guitar and soprano, is an ethereal play on dreams.

Only the Eagle Flies the Storm (1990), for guitar and string quartet, leaves one with real dramatic relevance besides its obvious fund of interesting ideas.

Daniel speaks from the heart and these authoritative performances do him full justice."
**** [four stars] - James Manishen

Fans of My Angel say:
"Ms. Gauk's playing was inspired; her technique seamless. Excellent disc."
- Dr.Edward D, Lake Hopatcong NJ

"Superb. It's nice to hear pleasant contemporary music especially by a local composer."
- Steve N, Toronto ON

"A wonderful CD featuring Canadian talent!" - Bart R, Canmore AB

"Eclectic and very refreshing." - Robert B, Trois-Rivieres, QC

"Excellent - Love new music like this. Keep up the good work." - Ray T, Canmore AB

"Fantastic! Would welcome more Daniel / Gauk collaborations." - Russ K, Mississauga ON

"I thought that Rachel Gauk was superb!" - Ryan K, Uxbridge ON

"Love it! Bought at Winnipeg New Music Festival. I have two other CD's by Rachel and Susan Hoeppner."
- Zana L, Winnipeg MB

Panorama

The reviewers say:
The Winnipeg Sun:
"This Canadian guitar star continues to build an impressive catalog with this release of modern post-Segovia works. Gauk provides her own thoughtful notes to complement her masterful, sensitive playing."

Allegro Quarterly:
"Those interested in repertoire that is unhackneyed yet fully accessible will find everything to enjoy on this disc, culminating in a programming coup of startling originality˜ Crowning this well-chosen, expressively-played, and vividly-recorded program is an extraordinary suite by fellow Canadian, composer Omar Daniel, commissioned for her and entitled After the Panorama˜Would that other albums had so much care and thought put into them!"
- Bill Parker

Standard-Freeholder:
"Rachel Gauk is a high-quality classical guitarist. There's much goig on here in this musical "Panorama" of... 20th century Latin-American and Spanish guitar music˜ Quite introspective and flawlessly played."
- Yvan Brunet

The Globe & Mail:
"Gauk's stylistic flexibility is as impressive as her solid technique. In studio and on stage she seems equally at home in repertoire ranging from traditional Spanish to Baroque to 20th century works by Harry Somers, Toru Takemitsu and Omar Daniel˜ Even when playing "traditional" she still colours outside the lines˜"
- David Barber

RPM Magazine:
"Once again Ms. Gauk proves both her mastery of the guitar and her fine attack on Spanish and Latin American music˜"
- Bill Watt

Classical Music Magazine:
"Gauk offers an attractive program˜ Throughout, Gauk's tone is exquisite ˜ A fine disc˜"
- Rick MacMillan

Fans of the Panorama say:
"Excellent performance and recording." - John G, Ottawa ON

"An excellent sounding CD and beautiful playing. Also a great selection of 20th century Latin American and Spanish music." - Marlon W, D.D.O. QC

"Great emotional expression." - Jesse M, Seattle WA

"Loved it." - David P, Toronto ON

"An outstanding choice of repertoire. Beautiful interpretation!"
- Jeff B, San Luis Obispo CA

Scarlatti: Sonatas

The reviewers say:
Sound Advice, CBC Radio 2:...
"Tight, crisp guitar sound - I'd give it five out of five." - Rick Phillips

RPM Magazine:
"This collection of Scarlatti sonatas is sweetly enjoyable˜ Dip into Miss Gauk's selection˜ and savour her fine technique and expressed emotion˜ Miss Gauk evokes them beautifully˜ The sound quality throughout is the highest" - Bill Watt

Beach Metro Community News:
"This recording demonstrates Ms. Gauk's complete understanding of the material and a confident approach to the performances. Her mastery of the guitar is obvious."

Fans of Scarlatti: Sonatas say:
"An excellent selection of pieces - beautifully played." - Paul O, New York NY

"A clear recording of an outstanding Canadian artist. I'm very happy to have this CD."
- Dominic Y, Calgary AB

"Brilliant - consistently clear. One cannot mistake the quality of the performer's instrument."
- Robert Z, Edmonton AB

"Superb performance - Best Scarlatti on guitar I've heard. Excellent recording."
- Marcus W, Birmingham UK

"An astonishing performance!" - Umberto Z, Pescarolo IT

"I think this CD is excellent. In fact it has become one of my top 10 favourite recordings."
- Jeremy T, London ON

"Uplifting! Would Rachel like to go out for a pizza?" -Denis G, Calgary AB

"I love the music - a beautiful marriage of composer and performer. A true delight!"
- Jeff M, Montreal QC

"Fantastic!! Liked it so much that I bought all her recordings."
- D.S, Salt Lake City UT

"Ms. Gauk is wonderful and plays some of Scarlatti's most lovely pieces."
- Stilinovic D, Zagreb CR

Danzas y Canciones

The reviewers love this recording:
Sound & Vision Magazine:
I've listened to plenty of classical guitar recordings over the years, and they all sound like recordings of a guitar, not like the real guitar. This one does˜ When all the elements in the sound-recording and reproduction chain come together˜-[including as] in this case, an artist of great musicality and rhythmic sense, the link between the original performance and the listener at home becomes virtual perfection - palpably real. It is, indeed, the very essence of fidelity."
- Alan Lofft

Acoustic Guitar:
"[A recording] we took for a spin and can't seem to put away... Though there are many young players with astounding technique, Gauk has a powerful gift of emotional expression that is rare in guitarists of any age."

Classical Guitar Magazine:
"There is much to admire in this beautifully recorded CD by the young Canadian guitarist Rachel Gauk, and from the outset it is clear that one is listening to a very fine player˜ Gauk's stylish and cleanly executed performances would be hard to better˜ A technical tour de force˜ One awaits a follow up CD with great interest."...
- Peter Rueffer

The Globe and Mail:
"This disc reveals [Rachel Gauk's] talents in a collection of short works˜ On the evidence of this showing, Gauk is a musician of compelling skill and well balanced taste. Whatever the complexity of the score at hand, she's able to resolve concurrent lines easily into a clear and convincing perspective... [with an] admirable range of attack and a good measure of rhythmic verve, features displayed to advantage."
- Robert Everett-Green

Fans of the Danzas y Canciones say:
"Excellent quality." - Jack C, Winnipeg MB

"Wonderful!" - T.S, Winnipeg MB

"Superb artist and recording, an instant favourite."
- David B, New Denvor BC

"After seeing Miss Gauk at Utah State University I bought this CD. It's great!!!"
- Bryant L, Logan UT

"Perfect." - Darryl L, Calgary AB

"Beautifully clear sound." - R S, Port Rowan, ON

"Superb artist and recording is an instant favourite!!" - David B, New Denom BC