WEEK 4: Homenaje a la Guitarra 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the fourth week of our musical Journey to Spain!! This is the place to share submissions of the fourth week! 
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
- (Optional:) questions
↓ HAPPY PRACTICING, HAPPY SHARING ↓
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Here is the video of Leyenda I uploaded "manually (Davinci seems to be a bit buggy in this process). This piece is clearly a work in process that requires more serious attention in certain areas, and needs more overall practice as well.
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Barney These iconic Spanish pieces obviously suit you well, Barney. Your sound and playing style are so perfect for them. I know that the A section is the flashy part everyone remembers, but I really love the B section (and the coda), and you are playing those parts so very beautifully, with lots of color and feeling.
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Eric Phillips Thanks so much Eric for your kind words!
fyi, I'm late joining this Challenge, so I haven't had an opportunity yet to look at the other submissions and comment, so please forgive me.
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Barney No need to forgive, as no offense was committed. Since this challenge is really perfect for you, your style, and your tastes, I am just so glad you joined in!
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Eric Phillips Thank you Eric! When I was a youngen learning the guitar, I played a wide scope of repertoire from all the different Eras and composers. I think back then when listening with my father to his vinyl records by Segovia, John Williams, Bream, Parkening, Alirio Diaz, etc, he would listen to more of the Spanish pieces than the others; perhaps I connected more with the beauty, sound, and singable aspect of those melodies on the guitar. Who knows. The first pieces I ever learned, however, were from composers, such as Milan, Narvaez, etc from the earlier periods. I like all of it. We are lucky to have such a broad repertoire, with so much to explore.
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Barney That was amazing Barney. Your performance of the A section was really good but, as Eric pointed out, your B section was masterful. You may have started the challenge late but you jumped in with both feet.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack! I wish I had more time to work on Leyenda before the Challenge ends, but unfortunately some life stuff is getting in the way. We all have this balancing act; wouldn't it be nice if we could just play guitar, haha?
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Barney That was amazing! I enjoyed that so much, the contrast between the rainy beginning and the lyrical passages of the middle part was so beautifully executed!
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Martin Thanks Martin!!
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Here's a rough recording done on my phone of La Paloma not very well played. Hoping to create a better version in the next few days. Not sure I can classify it as a Spanish piece, coming from Cuba via the basque country.
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Derek Well done Derek. That was pretty impressive for a 'first draft'.
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Derek Wow! Very rhythmical, I really enjoyed it! I think we can accept this piece
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Derek so nice Derek ! I used to sing this song with a college from Korea! with a "hut of straw" (sombrero de paja)...
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Derek Hey, Derek, what a draft! A touch in the soul, thank you!
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Hello, friends! I think I get an enough level to show you my Asturias. I have many work to do, but that's the start. In this recording I started at the section B, then A and then the Final, just to don't stress my hands playing the A part two times.
What’s easy? Memorize… =)
Difficulties: maintain clarity, balance and regularity in the right hand; phrasing in the B part and the Final.
Finally, I guess that is quite easy to fall in a trap and play a bit "pastiche" (I have no idea how can I say that in english…)
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Moyses Lopes Hi Moyses! What delicate trills and lines you shape with your guitar, I particularly enjoyed the long crescendo that was building up until the polyphonic part in 1:34, such a tasteful interpretation!
And I was nooot expecting that fiery end since you started with the B-Section, haha! Impressive!
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Martin Amazing, Moyses! You show such absolute control over your hand and finger movements. So impressive. And I must say, I really enjoyed the look on your face when you missed the high B note. It was just a reminder that you really are human (which I appreciate).
Great work! -
Moyses Lopes Wow!!! Moyses, that was spectacular. Beautifully played and interpreted. There are really some impressive guitarists here at Tonebase.
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Martin Thanks for listening, Martin! You're very kind!
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Eric Phillips It's something like: what a hell!?!?!?!? I have studied so much to made a mistake in THAT note?!?!?! Hahahahaha... Human beens, human things! Thanks, Eric!
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Jack Stewart thank you for your kindness! I will study a bit more to deserve these words! =)
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Moyses Lopes bravoooooooo
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thank you! =)
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Francisco Tárrega - Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Bare Bones Primer version)
Let's face it, Francisco Tárrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra is arguably one of the most beautiful pieces of Spanish classical guitar repertoire...but it is a BEAST! The tremolo, combined with the chord formations, make this one of the most daunting pieces as well. Everyone wants to play it...but few actually can.
However, it's beauty doesn't have to be out of reach - taunting you. That's why I have created this beginner bare bones primer version. It accomplishes two things: gets the student playing a very slow and steady a-m-i right-hand fingering to help develop a proper tremolo technique. Secondly, it introduces the student to the harmonic structure as well as the melody.
You'll notice this particular performance comes complete with a loud accelerating car at the beginning of the repeated minor section - as well as a few mistakes right at the end! Enjoy!
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Steve Pederson This is a very interesting approach to learning the Requerdos tremolo. Very smoothly played. I be interested to hear how it progresses. Thanks for presenting this.
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Steve Pederson very interesting Steve...good to clearly hear the melody...
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
