Guyute Shorts

“Guyute” itself unfolds over four distinct movements. In the first, the narrator chronicles an unpleasant encounter with the tune’s namesake, an ugly pig, in buoyant 6/8 time. If not outright homicidal, the storyteller suggests, Guyute is at the very least malevolent. Trey introduces the second leg of the journey on guitar, tearing through a jig-flavored riff at blinding speed, and the rest of this section playfully explores this theme. The third section, however, takes a turn for the menacing, as dissonance and tempo build to a climactic frenzy. Fishman ends this melee with a drum break, introducing the final and majestic fourth movement, in which a wailing melody finally gives way to subdued ambiance. In early versions (before 12/...