The first of three videos on the concept and practice behind a seemingly simple warmup exercise.
Intrigued.
And here are some audio samples of that technique in action.
Category Archives: Guitar
Yet even more Bream at the BBC
I know there has been rather a lot of Bream on telly recently (just look at the related links below), but if you live in the UK, you owe it to yourself to watch this marvellous programme if you are one of the two or three guitarists who didn’t see it tonight.
The programme consisted mainly of complete performances of music played by Julian Bream on BBC TV over the last 40 years or so and shows his wide influence on the acceptance of the guitar as well as the revival of the renaissance lute. Also, his playing on live TV is magical.
Highlights for me were the 3rd movement of Malcolm Arnold’s concerto conducted by the composer, the Bream consort playing Byrd, Bream and George Malcolm, Bream and Williams playing Albeniz and Bream and Yussef Allie playing Nuages.
Well, OK most of it…
There is also a sense of a passing age seeing the two retired maestros Bream and Williams knocking the spots off most modern duos.
The link to playback is still active until 31stJanuary, so go get it if you haven’t seen it already!
I hope the BBC make this more widely available.
Other archive programmes so far include Menuhin at the BBC and Tortelier at the BBC.
Here is a bit about the programme
Petroc Trelawney presents the last in his series exploring the great classical stars through the BBC film archive. He spotlights the legendary British guitarist Julian Bream. Now 80 years old, Bream’s life and music were richly documented through regular appearances on television from the 1960s to the 1980s. Performances include Malcolm Arnold’s Guitar Concerto conducted by the composer, duets with John Williams, hot jazz, classical transcriptions and lute music performed with Bream’s own Early Music Consort.
Alice Artzt: live concert playing Dowland, Obrovska, Rodrigo
Thanks to selftaughtgirl for preserving this!
Neil Smith: live concert playing Albeniz, Tansman, Tedesco, Segovia, & Turina
Another musician who is one of a kind – from “up North”, Neil was music editor for Classical Guitar for many years, and has been on the circuit for over thirty years.
His early studies took place in Manchester and London with Duarte and then later at Toronto University, Canada with Alirio Diaz and Leo Brouwer. On his return to the UK, he made his Wigmore debut.
He followed this with tours and Proms Concerts with some of our finest orchestras and conductors including the CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle, the SNO under Sir Alexander Gibson and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1982, he took part in a Royal Gala weekend at the new Barbican Hall in London, becoming the first guitarist to play Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez in this great hall.
Not only has he played in such distinguished venues; he has also played for His Highness Sheikh Maktoum in Arabia and for His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. the Colombian Ambassador and H.E. the Israeli Ambassador in addition to the film-star Elizabeth Taylor in Rome and a special recital for a Soviet tank division at the castle of Attila the Hun!
Many thanks to selftaughtgirl
Omega Guitar Quartet: studio concert playing Ravel, Dvorak, Carpenter, & Milhaud
The Omega Guitar Quartet, in its third incarnation, sans founding members Gilbert Biberian or Greg Pikler. The Quartet was instrumental in commissioning works from new composers and putting guitar ensemble on the 20th century guitar map.
When the Omega Quartet was formed in 1969, chamber music for guitars alone was scarce.
Biberian founded the Omega Players, out of which grew the quartet.
Here’s an article in Creative Guitar International on Biberian and the quartet.
As ever, thanks to selftaughtgirl
More airline horror
From Norman Lebrecht’s great blog Slipped Disc
If it’s not the Customs, it’s the US airlines. This message was in from the Lute List:
Hello all,
Last night the soundboard of my 13-course lute was completely smashed after being valet-checked on a flight. (It just happened to be my birthday. Thanks Delta.)
Dr. Christopher Wilke D.M.A.
Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer
www.christopherwilke.com
There is now an UPDATE, which is an even grimmer tale, here.
John Williams: The Guitarist
“This site is not about John Williams the film composer.
Try the John Williams Fan Network.
John Williams is not involved in any way with this site.
We are not directly in contact with each other. See the F.A.Q. for more information.” -Richard Sliwa
Nevertheless, this site has more information on John Williams the guitarist than you might ever need to know!
An interesting history of JW from his beginnings as a young guitarist to the publication of his biography “Strings Attached”, to his retirement through the most interesting era in the classical guitar’s evolution.
A fascinating read indeed.
Wolfgang Lendle live at Esztergom Festival: Navarez, Milan, Mudarra, Lendle, Paganini & Anido
Extraordinary playing of his own music and Paganini (variations on La Campanella). Great use of colour and harmonics. Thanks to selftaughtgirl
Gregg Nestor: studio concert playing Ponce, Berkeley, Albeniz, Dodgson, & Gershwin
I first met Gregg in 1982, and was impressed by his huge collection of guitar arrangements and transcriptions which he used to keep in the top drawer of his clothes cupboard. I remember he had unusual pieces such as “Teddy Bear’s Picnic Variations”, “Annie get your gun”, “Children’s Corner” by Debussy, “Gershwiniana”, motley pieces by Poulenc and numerous other titles, expertly arranged for nimble fingers.
I heard from him again recently, and if you are interested in the sort of music he has to offer, drop him a line at http://www.greggnestorguitar.com
Thanks again, selftaughtgirl for this trip down memory lane.
Costas Cotsiolis: live concert playing Dowland, Bach, Granados, Tansman, & Paganini
A rare recording of Costas when he was a young man – he stayed with me on the occasion of his visit, and we had fun!
Thank you for this selftaughtgirl