Baroque Guitar and Theorbo
Alessandro Piccinini
Ciaccona in Partite Variate
Anna Kowalska – baroque guitar
Anton Birula – theorbo
www.luteduo.com
Enjoying the Journey
I’ve said it many times over the years: The most important thing I want to accomplish with students is for them to develop a happy life-long relationship with the guitar.
Well, I got a nice email yesterday…
John,
Stroll through my house and you’ll hear my son playing the piano or guitar, my youngest daughter singing at the top of her lungs, and for most of 2010 me working on Bach’s Chaconne, and from time to time my oldest daughter playing piano.
All that to say that music is a dominant force in the life of my family. My youngest is involved with a youth theater doing 3 musicals a year. My son just finished there and is now going to be a music director. He’s working on a music degree and may become a choir teacher. He loves music theory and is dreaming. (He and a friend started a production company — whatever that means). My oldest daughter is a pretty good pianist looking forward to starting piano lessons again. My wife is the Area Coordinator for the drama group and as the only non-musician in the family was the driving force for piano/clarinet/guitar/voice lessons.
Years ago, I wondered how I would get my kids not to walk away from music as I did when I was 14. I never figured out a plan, but they watched me play at home and perform. I think that gave them the spark to stay at it. We didn’t go on great vacations or have the latest video games because $ went to lessons (6 different lessons at one point) and went to buy or rent instruments. None of them would have done it differently.
Anyway, I was just thinking about the part you played in inspiring me and again wanted to say thanks. I have three kids whose lives have been, and will continue to be impacted by music. Never mind the kids, I was just playing and reflecting on how much I love to play.
By the way, about a year and a half ago my son picked up my Villa-Lobos book and in a week’s time read through Prelude 1 and had it memorized. Kind of surprising since he didn’t have any need to read guitar music before (gifted reader on piano though). He learned on his electric guitar and played it for me on a classical guitar. He played through every once in a while and then played it in a district music competition just over a year ago. He won for classical guitar which qualified him to compete at state… which he won. Then he played for about 4500 people at graduation. I would have been petrified and he was excited. Good night!
So again, thanks. You did a great job as my teacher and those lessons have lived on. One thing I learned from you was that I could play whatever. I have learned the Chaconne from just opening the music and going to work and I don’t think I would have figured that out if you hadn’t shown great works.
I hope you are doing well!
B-
Roman Gurochkin Strikes Again
Mr. Gurochkin makes beautiful videos of fine guitarists (and fine videos of beautiful guitarists). This time the guitarist is Asya Selyutina, playing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Tarantella.
Warren Buffett Uke Auction
According to the Associated press yesterday, an Omaha man is going to try to auction off one of Warren Buffett’s ukuleles online for at least $100,000 or one Class A share of stock in Buffett’s company.
Buffett, who is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, plays the ukulele in his free time. He autographed and auctioned off this instrument in 2005.
Here’s Warren showing off his legendary timing:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Jorge al Najjar does up The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly on solo guitar. Better title: The Good, The Bad, and The Cool!
John Williams and Daughter Kate
{2019) Sadly, this video has disappeared from the Internet. I’m keeping the post up anyway, maybe the video will return some day. If you see it, please let me know.
The footage is from a TV show in Holland. On the show, after performing for a live audience, and with his guitar still in his hands, Williams is asked several questions about his daughter Kate, an accomplished jazz pianist. Williams makes the point that Kate has achieved her success with no help from Dad and that he is proud of her. Then, to Williams’ great surprise, Kate is suddenly revealed onstage. The expression on Williams’ face is priceless. It’s a touching scene.
Cedar or Spruce?
It’s an old guitar question: Cedar or spruce?
These are the two main choices for classical guitar tops. Many guitarists prefer one or the other. “I’m a cedar guy” or “I’m a spruce gal.”
Cedar is more forgiving than spruce. It’s easier to make a “good tone” on cedar. (“Good tone” usually means round and slick, with maybe some dark thrown in.) You have to have a more exacting technique to make spruce sound as round and dark as cedar. On spruce, every little right hand inattention will show up.
On the other hand, if you have a well-developed technique that features a variety of right hand touches (especially colors), the spruce will pay off in expressiveness.
Spruce is like a sports car that needs constant inputs, good in the corners. Cedar is like a big fat Cadillac, good for cruising.
Your mileage may vary. 🙂