Week 4: Harvest Melodies
As the air gets crisper and the days grow shorter, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the beauty and transition that autumn brings. We're excited to introduce our newest community challenge: "Music of the Fall"! This is your chance to explore pieces that capture the essence of this season – whether they evoke the feeling of change, a fresh beginning, or the quiet nostalgia of falling leaves.
What’s the Challenge?
Select a guitar piece that you personally associate with the change of seasons or the idea of starting anew. This could be a work that resonates with autumnal moods, melodies that conjure up images of falling leaves, or pieces that mark a new chapter in your musical journey.
Suggested Themes:
- Transition: Pieces that reflect change or transformation.
- New Beginnings: Works that symbolize starting something new, like a new season in life or music.
- Autumnal Mood: Music that captures the essence of fall – perhaps something contemplative, warm, or even bittersweet.
Timeline:
- Start: October 1st
- End: November 13th
-
Every fall my theme song for season has been Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma, lyrics by Jacques Prevert and Johnny Mercer. This arrangement by Jenne Lee has interesting rhythmical variations. It's still a work in progress.
-
Marilyn Blodget Very impressive Marilyn - I love the arrangement. Certainly very seasonal - I've been out with my 2 year old granddaughter collecting autumn leaves today
-
Marilyn Blodget I had this piece in mind at the start of this challenge. You filled in for me :) and Played it so beautifully.
-
Marilyn Blodget well done Marilyn. It's a classic when someone thinks of Autumn. Lovely arrangement.
-
Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Thanks Nijwm! It’s a lot of fun to play!
-
Debbie Thanks Debbie!
-
Marilyn Blodget Wow, this is wonderful, Marilyn. You have a great feel for this jazz arrangement.
I just got a version of Autumn Leaves by Bill Piburn but I won't have time to work it up - maybe next fall.
-
-
Another of my fall favorites: Leo Brouwer's Un Dia de Noviembre. I had a tonebase lesson on this piece with Isaac Bustos that I really enjoyed. Thanks Isaac!
-
Marilyn Blodget Beautifully played Marilyn - thanks for sharing
-
Marilyn Blodget Beautifully played, Marilyn. I had played this in the last Brouwer challenge, but not as elegantly as you. It's one of my favourite pieces. Bravo!
-
Ron Thanks Ron
-
Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Thanks Nijwm
-
Marilyn Blodget That was beautifully played, Marilyn! I really like the contrast of the A major section. Correct me if I am wrong - didn't you participate in the livestream masterclass Isaac Bustos did with this piece?
-
Eric Phillips Yes I did. That was fun- although I don’t like how my guitar sounds over zoom, and my guitar and I were squeezed into a small area in front of my husband’s big computer where we had our strongest Wi-Fi. But Isaac was very helpful.
-
Marilyn Blodget you play this gem very beautifully Marilyn, thank you for sharing, bravo!
-
Marilyn Blodget Your playing of this haunting piece by Brouwer is beautiful. Marilyn.
-
-
Shand - Il Pensieroso Oct 29 update
This is a quick recording on my iPad. The piece is feeling a bit more fluid to me.
-
Eric Phillips Better every time! Such clean and crisp recording as well. I really love the mellow and gentle tone of the melody line. Superbly played, Eric.
-
Eric Phillips Beautiful! You’re right—the phrasing is lovely, and it really flows.
-
Eric Phillips Indeed it flows very well... you'll have a final version in to time! Are you using the USB microphone with the iPad?
-
Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise. It's just the microphone that's built into the iPad. There is no USB port to use.
-
Eric Phillips Hmmm, it's surprising how well it sounds!
-
Eric Phillips you should be able to use the USB-C or lightning port at the bottom with an adapter (or a mini-hub) if you want to use the microphone.
-
Eric Phillips Excellent performance, Eric.
-
-
My third and final submission of this piece. Learning has often been a 'one-step forwards, two-steps' back journey for me. I'm not entirely sure if this version is better. I tried to speed up the scale sections. Annoyingly, the mind goes blank every now and then and struggles to synchronize with the fingers. As a result, I fumbled through at various points. But hey, I'm enjoying the process. And this challenge has been a joy to participate in, with so many beautiful submissions from fellow members.
