Heitor Villa Lobos was such a towering presence in Brazilian music, that other Brazilian composers of the period tend to take a back seat. This, coupled with the fact that Brazil is often excluded in festivals of classical contemporary Latin American music in Europe (because of the language difference) means that we have to go out of our way to find music by contemporaries of Villa Lobos.
Category Archives: Guitar
Sing a long a Koyunbaba
This happened to Christina Sandsengen during a recent recording session. Sounds to me the way it should be, no?
A Schottisch in the arm
Yamandu Costa, Brazilian guitarist, composer and iconoclast who takes his 7-string violão places many cannot even imagine, plays this cheeky version of Villa lobos’ Schottich choro with Gutto Wirtti. This demonstrates in an extreme way what Dinu Lipatti was trying to say in his last essay.
Sir Ed in the shed!
Edward Elgar, the composer of such unguitaristic tunes such as “Land of Hope and Glory” used to gather with a group of friends behind the Elgar Brother’s music shop near Worcester in order to play music every Sunday afternoon when he was young and not yet a knight.
Fair treatment for musicians traveling on planes with their instruments
Just in case you missed this first time round. Hopefully, this has had an effect as it did in the USA.
Petition | Fair treatment for musicians traveling on planes with their instruments | Change.org.
West Dean 2013 – more
Here are some nice pictures by West Dean stalwart, Bill Brooks
And here is the first performance of my piece for guitar and guitar orchestra “Heart of the Rose”, played by Alison Bendy and the West Dean Festival orchestra at the final concert.
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and the winner of the West Dean Guitar raffle is…
West Dean Guitar Summer School raised money for its bursary fund for young guitarists by raffling off a guitar generously donated by luthier Earl Marsh.
This guitar is named “Celine” and has a very beautiful back and sides made from bird’s eye maple. It was donated by Earl and its case was donated by Hiscox Cases.
The surprise winner was… Continue reading
More Britten Nocturnal?
West Dean 2013 2 – photo selection
West Dean – view from front door
West Dean 2013 1
West Dean – the name conjures up well appointed gardens, a flint covered manor in the middle of the rolling Sussex countryside, sheep, cream teas, Surrealists, the eccentric Edward James and a lively yet dignified community of craftsmen and women, engaged in furniture making, restoration, stained glass, tapestry, blacksmithing, and crafts we only read about in books.
