Guitar World

Bernard, alias Cryloud of youtube, has his first CD out, available soon online. Here he is playing Suite des Constellations, by Jean Marie Raymond, a terrific Brazillian styled piece.

A Happy New Year to you all

Montse produced this charming video, some while ago. Her guitar sessions site is dedicated to those wishing to rediscover the guitar, maybe after an absence of playing. Here she is playing Lagrima by Tarrega, in church.

Lágrima at Piedeloro church from Montse ARDEVOL on Vimeo.

To rediscover one’s love of music and the guitar (or any instrument you happen to play) can be the most enjoyable experience you can have in music. So, if you’ve not played for a while, and take a leaf out of Monts’e book, and “take your guitar out of it’s case”…

Now, where’s mine…Case that is…

 Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending a recital by Paraguayan virtuoso guitarist Berta Rojas, at Bolton Arts Centre, England. This concert was organised by Manchester Guitar Circle.

The  concert began with a brief performance by Bolton school advanced guitarist ensemble, playing three works. Then Rojas herself took centre stage, resplendent in all black, with a friendly stage manner, yet always conveying an aura of an artist at work.

The first half of her programme featured various composers, first Vincent Lindsey Clark from south England, who’s short piece  ”Laura”,  sparkled with vivacity,  a high melody over  fast moving arpeggio’s. It was good to hear something by Vincent in concert again, and my slight disappointment over the concert having deleted “Five Pictures of Stark” by Vincent from the programme was countered by the delights of Latin American rhythm’s and charm in the following works.

“Pasaje Abierto” by Costa Rican composer Edin Solis features two movements, Preludio and Danza, the latter’s opening section reminiscent of the second movement from Brower’s El Decameron Negro, (the Escape of the Lovers From the Valley of Echo’s)

Berta followed this with a three movement work by Quique Sinesi, “Cancion Hacia Vos”, “Alta Paz”, and “Cielo Abierto”. This charming set from Argentina I have never heard before, the first movement dedicated to the composers son. Engaging melodies and challenging rhythms, featuring tambora effects on the guitar.

Then followed two pieces by Korean composer Byeong Woo Lee. The tender “Mother” followed by “Run”, again both pieces I was hearing for the first time, but after this I am keen to hear more.

To round off the first half of the programme, Berta played two pieces from Brazil by Egberto Gismondi “Frevo” and the very rhythmical “Baiao Malandro”, with again Tambora playing a significant role in the piece, the wood of the guitar being tapped at different points, against a left hand hammer on chord effects.

Agustin Barrios Mangore

The rest  of the concert was dedicated to the works of her compatriot Agustin Barrios, who’s works, she tells us, she enjoys playing very much. I don’t think anyone plays Barrios better than Rojas. Not simply because she has an affinity with the legendary Paraguayan guitar master, and has the natural rhythm and idiomatic approach to his music. There must be something in the soul of the performer and composer that creates such a beautiful harmony, making Barrios and Rojas combination such an irresistible force in the music world. Rojas is able to bring out the composers charm, humour and pathos in such a way that, if Barrios himself is looking down, surely he will be very happy to realise his music has such a sympathetic medium of expression.

“Una Limonsna Por El Amor De Dios” tremolo was the opening, a soulful, serene reading given by Rojas, the final notes dying away followed by a long, reverential silence from the audience.

Then came two dances, “Jha Che VAlle” and “Danza Paraguaya”, both joyful celebrations of the composers homeland.

“Vals opus 8 no’s 3 and 4″ came next, almost mandatory for a Barrios recital these two, strangely played in reverse order here, Vals Brilliante before Romantica.

Two brilliant concert studies, the first the famous one in A major, followed by another virtuoso “Symphonic Allegro” are technical challenges not for the faint hearted, dispatched with aplomb by Rojas.

Finally, the famous “La Catedral” (Cathederal) brought this memorable concert to a close, all three movements played, the plaintive, Chopinesque prelude extremely touching. One encore,  the Bossa Nova styled “Choro Da Saudade” the first time I’ve heard Rojas play this one, but the piece was given a peerless interpretation, again followed by a long, awed silence from the audience, before a long round of applause.

A very enjoyable concert experience, one I hope to take in next year if the performer returns to England again. She will be very welcome, of this I am certain.

Rare video of guitarist Marcelo Kayath in concert, playing Mazurka Choro by Villa Lobos.

Bernard, alias cyrloud, on youtube, has recorded a lovely rendition of Leo Brower’s haunting “A Day In November”, originally a piece of film music adapted for guitar. The recuring theme always reminds me of a Christmas carol type of song, but it’s autumnal melancholy is very apt for this time of year…Thanks Bernard

The wonderful Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas playing Ca’azapa by Barrios, in Ireland.

Berta Rojas is interviewed by Matt Warnock at Modern Guitarist, you can read the interview here. The interview is on the subject of Rojas DVD recital on the music of Agustin Barrios, which I reviewed on a previous post. Interestingly, Matt asks Berta about her preperation for the DVD, as compared to a concert preperation, something I myself have pondered..DVD recordings are becoming deservedly more popular these days, I hope to see more available. Well done Matt, with this interview.

Berta is performing in concert at Southampton Guitar Society, 14th November.

Other concerts of interest in November;

5th Xuefei Yang, Lighthouse, Poole.

15th John Williams recital, Wirral International Guitar Festival.

28th  Carlos Bonell, St. Mary’s Church, East Lothian, Scotland.

Stafford Guitar Centre are offering two weekend study courses, the second of which is in November. at Wedgwood Memorial College.

Volume 2 of Ten Popular Songs for guitar, arranged by Chris Dummigan, is now available at Guitar Notes. I myself have volume 1, I’m always looking for good arrangements of songs for classical guitar.

ABC Classics have released this promotion video of Karin Schaupp. Her latest CD is the great guitar concerto’s, including Bacarisses little-known Concertino, Romancero Gitano, and the much played Rodrigo Arranjuez.

In the video she said she’d thought of Castelnuovo Tedesco concerto, partly because it is rarely recorded. What a pity she did not include this often overlooked gem, in my opinion (I can feel another post coming on) ….Anyway, from this video, the recording sounds great

Peo Kindgren performs his new piece “Winter from “The Four Seasons”, with pictures of Sweden as background.

Peo, I like the look of your new home in Sweden, what a great room to play guitar in too

Enno Voorhorst plays Gavota al Estilo Antiguo (Gavotte in the old style) by Agustin Barrios. Thanks to Rare Guitar VC for this video