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
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I can't believe it's the last day of the challenge. I'm getting this in just under the wire. I've been workin on Milonga del Viento (Milonga of the wind) has a nice flowing feel - which I'm still working on. I'd like to increase the tempo, memorize it better so I can eliminate some of the hesitations and play more it more freely. I'm still working on sustaining some of the higher notes in a few of the chords which I find challenging.
I look forward to having a listen to everyone else's submissions.
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Blaise Laflamme Thank you Blaise! It needs a bit more expression now and a bit faster tempo so I look forward to working on that and will update my progress along the way.
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Debbie I'm sure you'll reach that by then end of the challenge, I'm looking forward to your next iteration.
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Debbie This is beautiful, Debbie, both the piece and your playing. I don't know this piece but it has a haunting beauty. Thanks for sharing.
BTW I hope those are just Halloween decorations on the wall behind you (and not the shrunken heads of people who didn't silence their phones during one of your concerts.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack!
Halloween decorations for my students. This is where I sit when I do my online teaching. I thought it would be festive! 
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Debbie I really enjoyed this Debbie - it does having lovely haunting quality about it (appropriate for Halloween!). Thanks for sharing
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Hello everybody, I need to postpone the Watch Party, so we will add two more weeks to this beautiful challenge!
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martin great news, Martin!
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Martin OMG... two more weeks!
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Schumann Winterzeit (Post Herbstzeit?) op 68.38 update
This is a bit better but still rough. with a few stumble. I've been listening to Alexis Weissenberg for phrasing, not that one could tell. But it does give me a good model to follow.
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Jack Stewart Great progress from your first posting of this, Jack. You're playing it with great sensitivity and making the harmonic movement of the chords shine even more. I look forward to the next update.
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Jack Stewart Jack this is getting better every time and the phrasing gives it a better shape. Well played!
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Jack Stewart It's definitely getting better, Jack. So many chord shapes and fast changes, definitely looks very demanding on the left-hand but, looks like you've got them under good control. Looking forward to more on this piece.
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Jack Stewart This looks quite challenging, these chord shapes and switches are not that easy! I suspect once you'll get this memorized it'll help in reaching a more legato flow, but you already have built a good blueprint.
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Jack Stewart While I cannot tell that you are modeling Alexis Weissenberg (especially since I have not heard of him, let alone heard him play this), I can tell that your phrasing is hugely improved. I liked the first posting you made, but this has such a greater sense of musical direction and emotional impact. Beautiful!
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Jack Stewart This is a lovely piece Jack, and it’s coming together very well. I find I can phrase more convincingly when I have memorized a piece. That’s difficult for me, but until it happens it’s helpful if I line up my music stand so I can see it through my left hand line of sight.
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Just for fun, and because it's on theme, Roger Williams' arrangement of Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma. I've always loved it since I heard Roger Williams play it on Lawrence Welk back in the 50's. It's a totally different experience from playing Yenne Lee's version, and very trippy to play the swirling leaves.
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Happy Halloween Everyone! If you celebrate, that is! I just finished writing this simple little arrangement of The Munsters Theme and thought, "Hey! What a fun contribution to our challenge!" I hope you enjoy it
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Debbie What fun! Definitely a blast from the past. I probably watched every episode when I was a kid. Thanks, Debbie!
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Eric Phillips I know, right? Me too! haha
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