In the last article, we talked a little bit about sheet music’s history and a few basic concepts. In this article, I would like to talk a little about, what I call, the composer’s toolbox. In addition to our blank canvas, we have lots of elements that can be added to make up our composition.
Music notation is the way we document our music. Writing it down can preserve it for centuries. Consider the music we have from Bach, Mozart, and other composers. This creates a tradition of music. Certain musical periods reflected different music styles. These styles were built upon to create new and innovative styles. And we are still doing that today, that is creating something new off something that came before.
What Hath Scripture Memorization to Do with Guitar? That might seem like an odd or even polarizing question to ask these days. However, I am a Christian. This is a Christian website (if you haven’t noticed). I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. So, what in the world does memorization of the Scriptures have to do with classical guitar? I think we can draw a few parallels. Let me explain.
If you are familiar with a lot of repertoire, you will have a treasure trove of starting material. Learning to analyze a piece of music is a great introduction. This is one way you could be a way to start a new piece for the guitar. In this way, you have a map already laid out of where you are going, which chord you are going to use, and when and how you will modulate. By starting with an established piece even the form is given to you.
The classical guitar is one of the most mellow and beautiful instruments in the world. Yes, that is a biased opinion. Starting from the wood used to the shape of the nails and the strings, it is a rich musical instrument. Let us look at a little history of the guitar strings and how they are tied to the instrument.
In this article we explore the history of the classical guitar, tracing its origins back to ancient plucked stringed instruments and its development into its modern form. We also look at how the guitar has changed, including the size, string configuration, and playing techniques. Notable figures in the history of the classical guitar, such as Gaspar Sanz, Francisco Tarrega, and Andres Segovia, are also discussed.
I finally did it. After 12 years, I finally got my act together. I released some of the original music that has been collecting dust in the corner of the closet. Yep, it took 12 years to release 12 minutes of music presented in 5 songs. Why did it take that long? Let me share with you a few thoughts.
If you are a musician then you know the importance of keeping a maintaining your repertoire. Undoubtedly, being able to pull a piece out of memory at a moment’s notice is a great skill to have. Moreover, you can amuse and impress your friends and family with short recitals. Then they will ask you to play Wonderwall or whatever the worldwide music machine says is cool this week. But I digress.
I was interviewed for a “Meet the Composer” session for the December CCG Winter Festival. The following video is the interview. After that, the text transcript is below that. And below that is Daniel playing one of my compositions, “Last Flight Out.”
Carulli’s Op. 241 No. 1 is a simple waltz written in C major. The original scan says that it is written in 6/8, however it looks more like 3/8. The piece is in Ternary form. Basically, it has three sections. An “A” section that contains two sections (an “a” and “b”). Each section repeats.
