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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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 Great approach, Steve! Great idea to disrupt the focus that is in the technical problem to the musical question. Very smart!
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack!
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thank you Nora!
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Moyses Lopes Thank you Moyses!
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Julián Arcas - Bolero
The bolero was a popular Spanish dance in 3/4 that originated in the late 18th century. This is one of several pieces that Arcas wrote that uses the dance form.
I decided to play one of the sections (1:14-1:28) much slower and very freely, just to give it a change of pace. Let me know if you think it works, or if it would be better played in time with the rest of the piece.
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Eric Phillips This is very nice. It has an interesting complexity which you handle wonderfully. Personally I feel the slower section is a bit abrupt. Perhaps approach it with more rubato rather than a full out slower tempo. BTW this is not a very informed opinion and should be considered quite casually, if at all. Very nice performance.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. I appreciate your opinion very much. Not only are you quite well-informed about music, but it is also a matter of personal taste. I liken my question to asking if the chili is too spicy. The only information you need to answer that comes from your own taste buds.
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Eric Phillips Great, (again!) Eric! I think your idea about the "free" section is good. In the first section you have a very clear rhythm, with bases to help the pulse. Good idea to made a contrast without a pulsation, or "disguis" that pulse. Bravo! (I really need to improve my english... the ideas aren't flowing...)
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Moyses Lopes Your English is wonderful. I can't speak Portuguese at all!
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Tárrega – ¡Marieta! and Capricho Árabe
I am finally arriving at the biggest name of the Romantic period for the guitar. Since we already had the Tárrega Challenge last summer, I will limit myself to two pieces by this musical giant. Of all of Tárrega’s mazurkas, I think I like ¡Marieta! the most (mainly because it gives me the chance to use that upside-down exclamation mark). And with much fear and trembling, I humbly offer Capricho Árabe as well. Listen at your own peril!
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Eric Phillips great Eric!!!! very expressive and nicely played! congratulations... I love Marieta.....
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thank you so much, Nora!
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Eric Phillips Those were magnificent, Eric! Marieta was very expressive and beautiful. Your Capricho Arabe was wonderful as well, and that is a major and challenging piece! I thought about trying it for this but decided against it because I didn't think I could get it together in time. There are some challenging scalar passages and other fretwork, but the real challenge, to me, is holding all of the changes in the flow of music together. And you did so beautifully! Well done. Your didn't jump into the deep end - you gracefully dove off the high platform.
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Jack Stewart Thank you, Jack, although I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.
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Eric Phillips Two beautiful pieces! Great job Eric
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Paul Kennedy Thanks, Paul!
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Eric Phillips Oh, well I meant I couldn't get it together at an accessible level by the end of the challenge. Did that help?
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Jack Stewart I only meant that you were exaggerating the quality of my playing, (And it was also a pun, since I grossly exaggerated in my sentence.) I hope I didn’t upset you. It was my poor attempt at being playful.
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Eric Phillips Now it is my turn to apologize. I was also being entirely playful by deliberately addressing the part of my statement you were obviously not referring to. I feel very confident in your good will and playful sense of humor. (You would have to work pretty hard to convince you are trying to upset me.)
I don't always come across accurately in social media - but then I have plenty of cringe inducing moments in person as well.
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Jack Stewart We should have a club! I’d vote for you to be the president.
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Eric Phillips I don't think I would be elected president of my sock drawer. (especially if we ask for a show of hands.)
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Eric Phillips ohh Marietta is wonderfully played, loved it! Such a good interpretation . And Capricho, such a hard piece, and you have played it so well, Congratulations!!! Your playing is very clean, notes are very clear, no nail sounds, beautiful
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Emma Thank you, Emma!
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I did a recording of Recuerdos for my diary, and I 've decided to uploaded also in our Spanish challenge. Still working on my tremolo, and interpretation. Still is not good
. Paciencia....paciencia....
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Nora Torres-Nagel Hi Nora. I think you made the video private because it is not showing up.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
