THE MUSIC SALON: classical music, popular culture, philosophy and anything else that catches my fancy...
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Post 3,002!
Now how did I miss that!! Putting up these daily concert posts threw me off and I lost count. The 3,000th post was actually the "Concert of the Day" one this morning. Oh well. I'm sure you have the general idea. I hadn't even decided for sure what I was going to do for the 3,000th post. Probably put up some compositions for the grand finale. Well, ok, here are a few.
I would love to see your compositions get a wider play in the guitar community. I believe you are making a valuable contribution to enlarging the guitar concert repertoire. I hope that does't sound like a passing grandiose compliment. The guitar repertoire needs opening up by guitarist composers and composers who love the guitar. As is, one vaguely entertaining piece every year or two gets launched into the concert scene and everybody plays it - I won't name names - you know what I am talking about. (I won't mount my hobby horse -- as I have done in other posts -- about guitarists hauling 19th century classical greats into the guitar repertoire.) Back to your pieces, both Chase and Dark Dream are very accomplished. They give me the feeling of a family reunion between the instruments. In most guitar-violin pieces the guitar stays on earth laying down functioning chords while the violin takes off for Jupiter. You keep the violin earthbound and that is all to the good - since the guitar is not fundamentally a virtuostic instrument (yes, we all love our guitar virtuosos, they do exist). The interplay is very well done in both pieces; the more I hear Dark Dream the more I get drawn into it - it has great tension and release (wonderful violinist btw). I don't think I am saying anything outlandish to say that your pieces should get wider exposure in the concertizing community -- am I?
Heartfelt thanks, Dex. I do have this slight fear of being labeled a "guitar composer" which I really don't want. But yes, one reason I write for guitar is that the instrument does need more different repertoire. But I am even keener to write string quartets and orchestral music. So...
I have resisted setting up a YouTube channel for a long time out of a sense that they exploit musicians with very paltry fees. But I don't need the money and I am sure that it would give my compositions a wider forum. So I will make it a goal in the next few days to set up a channel. Right now, the two pieces are unlisted so you can't search for them.
I used to play the Gran Duo Concertante by Giuliani for violin and guitar and wow, there was nothing earthbound about that guitar part!
regarding your pieces, I hope I meant 'earthbound' as in 'organic'; down-to-earth in a good sense, not in the sense of dull or prosaic. Of course, Giuliani is outside my gross generalizations! Please do start a YouTube channel; I don't know about the moola-loving YT managers, but I know that many musicians would take great delight in your work.
I would love to see your compositions get a wider play in the guitar community. I believe you are making a valuable contribution to enlarging the guitar concert repertoire. I hope that does't sound like a passing grandiose compliment. The guitar repertoire needs opening up by guitarist composers and composers who love the guitar. As is, one vaguely entertaining piece every year or two gets launched into the concert scene and everybody plays it - I won't name names - you know what I am talking about. (I won't mount my hobby horse -- as I have done in other posts -- about guitarists hauling 19th century classical greats into the guitar repertoire.) Back to your pieces, both Chase and Dark Dream are very accomplished. They give me the feeling of a family reunion between the instruments. In most guitar-violin pieces the guitar stays on earth laying down functioning chords while the violin takes off for Jupiter. You keep the violin earthbound and that is all to the good - since the guitar is not fundamentally a virtuostic instrument (yes, we all love our guitar virtuosos, they do exist). The interplay is very well done in both pieces; the more I hear Dark Dream the more I get drawn into it - it has great tension and release (wonderful violinist btw). I don't think I am saying anything outlandish to say that your pieces should get wider exposure in the concertizing community -- am I?
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt thanks, Dex. I do have this slight fear of being labeled a "guitar composer" which I really don't want. But yes, one reason I write for guitar is that the instrument does need more different repertoire. But I am even keener to write string quartets and orchestral music. So...
ReplyDeleteI have resisted setting up a YouTube channel for a long time out of a sense that they exploit musicians with very paltry fees. But I don't need the money and I am sure that it would give my compositions a wider forum. So I will make it a goal in the next few days to set up a channel. Right now, the two pieces are unlisted so you can't search for them.
I used to play the Gran Duo Concertante by Giuliani for violin and guitar and wow, there was nothing earthbound about that guitar part!
regarding your pieces, I hope I meant 'earthbound' as in 'organic'; down-to-earth in a good sense, not in the sense of dull or prosaic. Of course, Giuliani is outside my gross generalizations! Please do start a YouTube channel; I don't know about the moola-loving YT managers, but I know that many musicians would take great delight in your work.
ReplyDeleteI knew what you meant by earthbound!
ReplyDeleteYou've convinced me about the YouTube channel.
....make that "many musicians and music lovers" ... put up all your workes ... may I (question in advance) share them on facebook? Thnx
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit allergic to Facebook, but when I get my channel going, by all means share!
ReplyDelete