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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Debbie 30 days isn't enough to learn a new piece, is it? At least not for me
But you played it beautifully, lovely tone, balanced harmonically and the notes are connected well with legato. Enjoyed listening to it. -
Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary thanks Nijwm! I agree it’s not long enough. But I plan to keep working on this piece. I really love it.
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Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Well, GOOD NEWS, because we need to postpone the watch party, so I am adding 2 more weeks to this challenge! No excuse anymore!
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martin
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Debbie what a lovely piece, and you play it very well! It might be fun to consider more contrast- in dynamics but also tone color. Now we have two more weeks!
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Marilyn Blodget thanks Marilyn!
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Debbie Beautiful, Debbie! I find milongas to be hypnotic.
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric! I'm looking forward to workin on it more over the next two weeks.
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martin You bad bad man, Martin
.I was trying to make do with my last recording. Now, I'll have to work more. Perhaps, I can squeeze a little bit more to produce another recording. -
Debbie You already play this very well Debbie, it flows so nicely. Thank you for sharing music by Morel, I very like what he's doing!
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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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Debbie Beautiful piece Debbie. A new discovery for me. Well done
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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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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
