Week 4: Etude Extravaganza!
Welcome to the Main Thread for the forth week of "Etude Extravaganza" practice challenge!
- Choose an etude from a composer that captures your interest. It could be a soothing Sor etude, a technical Giuliani masterpiece, a Carcassi finger exercise, a harmonically rich Brouwer composition, or a rhythmically challenging Villa-Lobos piece. You're encouraged to experiment with pieces from composers you're not accustomed to or push your boundaries with a technically demanding work.
- Commit to regular practice and share your journey with the community. Aim to practice daily and upload at least two videos per week to showcase your progress. This will not only aid in keeping you dedicated and motivated but also enables you to share your musical journey with our tonebase family.
- Share your favorite etude or recording that epitomizes the concept of "Etude Extravaganza." Your submission will serve as inspiration for others and construct a vibrant repertoire of potential pieces for fellow members to explore.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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I consider the La Catedral Prelude to be an extension of the Sor B minor etude that I posted earlier in the challenge. They both feature a melodic melody line supported by harmonic arpeggios. I got helpful tips from both Xuefei Yang and Tal Hurwitz. Thanks Tonebase.
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don Thanks Don!
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Eric Phillips Thank you Eric!
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Marilyn Blodget Beautiful Marilyn! Thanks for sharing!
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Barney Thank you Barney. I think our guitars may be related. Mine is a 1969 Ramirez 1A, purchased at Ramirez shop in Madrid in 1969. Mariano Tezanos Castro (MT) was the luthier.
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Marilyn Blodget My Ramirez was made in 1964 by A.M. Some of these Ramirez Cedar top guitars (like mine) have that Mysterious Ramirez sound which is wonderful, but I wish it had more brightness and sustain in the high treble register. Have you been able to compensate for that, with certain strings?
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Barney I have really only played my guitar. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth. I’ve been using Savarez high tension Alliance trebles and Cantiga basses. What strings do you use?
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Marilyn Blodget At the moment, I'm using RC Recital Medium Tension Strings. Gohar Vardanyan said in a video she had them on her guitar and liked them. I think they are pretty good.
Are your trebles "carbon"?
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Barney The Alliance trebles are carbon.
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Marilyn Blodget Those Carbon trebles are definitely brighter with more sustain and projection, which I like, but the tradeoff for me is they are harder to play and more difficult to achieve a nice vibrato than Nylon. I guess we can't have everything.... haha.
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Barney True. My guitar is a 664 mm, which also adds to the difficulty. Is yours? I’ve been told it’s like playing a fence post, but I love the sound.
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Marilyn Blodget Yes, same with mine. Hard to play, but worth the effort for the Ramirez sound.
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Marilyn Blodget very sweet, Marilyn. Good phrasing and beautiful tone,
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joosje Thanks Joosje!
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Marilyn Blodget Beautiful, Marilyn. You have such a clear tone, especially in the upper registers. This is an ethereal piece of music which convey wonderfully.
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Jack Stewart Thank you Jack!
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Regondi Etude 1
Had a hip injury so my playing time in the last 2 weeks have been really limited as I can't sit for too long. But the good thing is I find myself more focused in my practice knowing I have very limited time to practice.
Anyhow here's my last take on this. Still some mistakes here and there but nothing good old fashion practice and hard work cannot fix.
Will try to work on the Sor Etude over the weekend if I can.
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don That sounds really lovely, Don! I'm sorry to hear about your injury, and I wish you a speedy recovery.
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don Great progress with this piece. I really like the dolce tone you have at the beginning. Very beautiful.
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don Very well done, Don. This a very challenging work, as is most of Regondi (at least it seems to me - I have never attempted any of his works).
This is a work that will grow over time. Great job.
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Eric Phillips Thanks! As long I don't aggravate it, it should heal within 3 months.
Dale Needles Jack Stewart Thanks!
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don This is coming along nicely, Don. Lots of fluidity. This piece has so much potential for dynamic expression. You might think about telling a story with your interpretation.
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Marilyn Blodget thanks for the adivce!. I always have this image of those shakespearean scene of a man courting a woman especially in the middle section whenever I hear this piece.
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don I listened to your performance again with that in mind and I had fun imagining many possibilities. I’m seeing a comedy—flirtation, miscommunication, definitely conversations and adventure, and all ending well. It might be fun to assign different voices to the characters—maybe not all the time, but sometimes.
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don your getting there, Don. It’s a lovely little concert piece. I’d suggest you take even more time for phrasing, as it’s was perceived in the height of the romantic period. But most of that is already there in your recording and I really like your interpretation.
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joosje Marilyn Blodget thank you and really appreciate the advices!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
