Week 1: Music of the Fall 🍂

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.

🌿 Some Ideas to Get You Started:

  • “Asturias (Leyenda)” by Isaac Albéniz – This fiery and evocative piece beautifully captures the intensity of nature, reminiscent of the dramatic changes and energy that autumn brings. Its powerful rhythms and haunting melodies mirror the contrasting moods of the season – from the vibrant colors of leaves to the quiet hush of early evenings.
  • "Un Día de Noviembre" by Leo Brouwer – With its gentle, reflective melody, this piece embodies the bittersweet nostalgia that often accompanies the fall. Its delicate phrasing and calm progression invite you to slow down, much like the quiet moments of a crisp November day.
  • “Septiembre” by Máximo Diego Pujol – A lively yet sentimental composition, “Septiembre” paints the picture of early fall with its warm harmonies and rhythmic complexity. The piece captures the transition from the last days of summer into the cooler, more contemplative atmosphere of autumn, making it a perfect musical tribute to the season.
  • "Autumn Streets" by Andrew York – This contemporary piece evokes the peacefulness of wandering through autumn streets, with its soothing melodies and intricate fingerstyle passages. Its relaxed, introspective character is a nod to the calm and beauty found in the changing leaves and the crisp autumn air.

📹 How to Participate:

  1. Choose Your Piece: Select a work that aligns with the theme of fall or personal change.
  2. Record & Share: Create a video or audio recording of your performance. Share it in the community with a brief description of why this piece resonates with you this season.
  3. Encourage & Engage: Check out other members' performances and share your thoughts, encouragement, and reflections on their seasonal choices.

⏰ Timeline:

  • Start: October 1st
  • End: October 30th

🏆 What’s in it for You?

While the joy of playing is its own reward, we'll be highlighting a few performances that capture the spirit of the challenge. Featured members will be spotlighted in a special community showcase at the end of the season!

Let's welcome the fall with music that inspires, transforms, and warms the soul. Ready to dive into the Music of the Fall? 🍁 Share your selections and let’s celebrate this season together through the strings of our guitars!

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  • For this challenge; I would like to work on the piece  Landslög II. I think the mood of the piece fits well with this challenge theme and it is already on my to do list for this fall.

    Let's get started.

    Like 1
    • Andre Bernier Good idea Andre, can't wait to hear your take on it!

      Like
    • Debbie
    • Debbie
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Sounds like a nice theme that works perfectly with a piece I just started learning: Milonga del Viento by Jorge Morel. See you all inside!

    Like
  • I live in the Southern hemisphere — I wonder if I could get a special dispensation to play a Spring-themed piece. Here in South Africa there are endless blossoms and new growth 

    Like 3
    • Sam Greenblatt I see no problem with that Sam, can't wait to hear what you have to share!

      Like 1
    • Sam Greenblatt I live in a tropical monsoon climate. So, there isn't much of an autumn here. It's still hot and humid, winter's more like autumn, very dusty and a bit chilly here. I agree with Blaise, play a spring themed piece. Let's hear it!

      Like
  • Hi everyone, hope everyone's well. I'm thinking of two pieces- Eterna Saudade by Dilermando Reis or the Preludio Saudade by Barrios. Autumn here in India is a festive time, of religious festivals, people exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. This season reminds me of nostalgia and longing, especially the simpler, innocent times of my childhood of the mid-80s and 90s. I hope I'm able to complete either of the two pieces.

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  • nice challenge. Very familiar with Asturias, acquainted with Un Dia de Noviembre but not at all familiar with Septiembre of Autumn Streets - looking forward to discovering those two pieces. Thanks!

    Like
  • Ernest Shand – Autumn Leaves Op 129

    I just got a new book of music by Shand, edited by Stanley Yates, and I just love it. When I saw the title of this piece, I figured it would be a good one to try for this challenge.

    Like 6
    • Eric Phillips Beautiful Eric! Is it the «Collected Works» of clean facsimile scans from the original editions?

      Like 1
    • Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise. It’s his edited works, presumably from the facsimiles that Yates has on his website, I believe.

      Like 1
      • Ronnull
      • Ron.3
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips What a beautiful piece - just ordered the book! Many thanks Eric

      Like 1
    • Ron That's great! His music is seldom played, and despite its age, it sounds very fresh to me. And he seems to have a lot of pieces in my technical range.

      Like
      • Ronnull
      • Ron.3
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips Yes I agree, there are some delightful pieces. I've just found an album by Alberto la Rocca who has recorded 60 of Shand's pieces

      Like 1
    • Ron I could listen to that one all day! Wouldn't it be great to play all those pieces that well?

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      • Ronnull
      • Ron.3
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips It would indeed!

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      • David Krupka
      • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
      • David_Krupka
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips That's a nice little piece, Eric, and as always, very well played! Shand certainly seems to be a composer who deserves more attention than he gets. He died a hundred years ago this fall, and seems to have descended into almost immediate obscurity. It's great that guitarists like Stanley Yates (not to mention yourself!) are bringing him back into public view.

      Like 1
    • David Krupka Thanks, David. I think you would love the book. In addition to all the great scores, it has an extended introduction to Shand's life, his music, and even his technique. Yates really went all out for this one.

      Like 1
    • Eric Phillips Cool... just bought the digital version, but I think it only contains the music minus all  Yates writing... 

      Like 1
    • Eric Phillips Beautifully played as always Eric. I wasn't familiar with Shand's music. Sweet, calming piece.

      Like 1
      • Jack Stewart
      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips This is sounding great as usual, Eric. You are continuing your search for hidden gems.

      Like 1
      • Debbie
      • Debbie
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips A very pretty piece, Eric. Thank you for sharing.

      Like 1
  • Shand - Autumn Leaves

    Here is an update after a couple more days of practice.

    Like 2
      • Ronnull
      • Ron.3
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Eric Phillips Absolutely beautiful Eric! 

      Like 1
    • Eric Phillips Very nice. Bravo 👍

      Like 1
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