Carulli Larghetto in G minor Op 192
I came across a performance of this piece on YouTube by Nicola Jappelli that I really love, so I thought I'd try to work on it myself. The score is attached.
Here are my goals for the piece:
- Use fingerings that make sense both musically and technically.
- Play with intentional and effective dynamics, articulation, and tone color.
- Write and execute a cadenza to be added between the B section and A' section (measure 25). Jappelli does this and I'd like to try it too.
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November 9, 2021
Here is an initial read-through of the piece by me, after making some fingering choices.
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Eric Phillips this is already sounding good, you definitely have great sight reading skills and an affinity to that music period. Good work!
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise.
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Eric Phillips I don't know how you manage to play so many pieces Eric. This one is sounding good already. Well done. I used to play a couple of the Carulli Op 34 duets - maybe we should have a Carulli challenge
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Derek Thanks, Derek. I'd be up for it! He has so many pieces at a variety of playing levels. I'd love to be able to play Carulli on a period instrument. I think it gives his music a lot more charm.
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Eric Phillips That's your next present! - roll on Christmas
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Derek I'm not sure that is going to happen. My wife already said that I may not be getting any presents for a few years!
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Eric Phillips I'll be very nice to my family - maybe I can get the 19th century guitar :-)
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Derek Sounds like a plan!
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This is beautiful and you have done an impressive read thru. I haven't been very impressed with Carulli before but this is very nice.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. Carulli wrote a massive amount of music (not just for guitar) and some of it is a bit pedestrian. Still, he has lots of gems like this one!
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November 10, 2021
Here's an update of this piece. I'm playing it at a slightly quicker tempo, which I like. I have added more dynamics, change in tone color, and rubato. I have also added a cadenza right before the repeat of the A section (measure 25).
G minor is such a cool key for the guitar!
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Eric Phillips That was beautiful! I totally agree, G minor is such a cool key and I loved the cadenza, very opera-esque and dramatic!!!
Did you know that Asturias is originally in G minor?
https://open.spotify.com/track/7EzLUC8n6rk9fM2yO5fc6X?si=9a64d0afa8514ac1
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Eric Phillips btw, I added info to our Dress Rehearsal, let me know if you want to reserve a spot!
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Martin Thanks, Martin. I did know that. I couldn't open that link, as I don't have a Spotify account, but I'm guessing it's an arrangement of Asturias for guitar in G minor?
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Eric Phillips Yes, you can hear it hear as well, Carles Trepat is one of my favorite guitarists for the traditional Spanish repertoire!
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Martin Oh wow! Very cool! It seems a lot darker to me than what we normally hear. I love the idea of new transcriptions, and not treating standard transcriptions as unchangeable.
I wonder what tuning he used. I’d guess at least Drop D and Drop G. Or maybe he tuned all the strings down a full step, so in his fingers he played it in A minor.
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Eric Phillips A pdf of Trepat's arrangement can be found here (not sure if there's any copyright infringement): https://pdfcookie.com/documents/asturias-by-isaac-albeniz-transcription-by-carles-trepat-k2pd1j6g7029
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David Krupka Nice. Thanks, David!
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Bonus Carulli! Moderato in B minor
Here's another piece from Op 192 that Jappelli also did. The entire Op 192 (very large) can be found on IMSLP, but I attached a photo of just this piece if you want to follow along. It's really nice!
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Eric Phillips Another charming little piece, Eric, and again nicely performed. I've long felt guitarists are too dismissive of Carulli. But he had a real gift for crafting delightful music from modest technical resources. (Of course, in his own performances, he was by all accounts a great virtuoso - unfortunately, it seems his actual concert works were never published.)
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David Krupka I couldn't agree more. Finding pieces like these just fill me with such joy!
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Eric Phillips it is really nice...I hear it by taking my coffe...thanks for sharing...it is true ..I never take and old Carulli partiture or book....
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David Krupka you are right..I though the same hearing Eric playing this melody....and very nice played...
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thank you, Nora. Coffee and Carulli sounds like a good combination!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
