WEEK 1: Exploring Carcassi's Etudes
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the composition challenge! This is the place to post updates for the first week.
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
- Get the Scores here! (<- click)
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
- (Optional:) questions
↓ Reply below with your updates and questions! ↓
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Study 14.
Here's another take at this piece, a bit faster and with (I hope) a bit more musicality. I'm not sure, but I think this may be my last submission of this piece!
I apologize for the beeping sound at 1:08. I received a notification on my laptop at that moment!
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Martin Great, I will try that too!
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Eric Phillips lovely!!!
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Study 2 update.
I'm still playing it very slowly, but now I'm trying to add what Tengyue Zhang called micro dynamic shapes in his video lesson. Basically, I'm trying to give each arpeggio a hairpin dynamic. Let me know if it works!
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Eric Phillips Bravo!!!
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Giuseppe Gasparini Grazie ancora.
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Eric Phillips Lovely performance, Eric!
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David Krupka Thanks so much, David!
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Eric Phillips great work Eric
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Derek Thanks, Derek.
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Eric Phillips thanks for sharing. It’s great, Eric. I also took this one again after seeing Tengyue’s inspiring lesson. You really get the message through here …
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joosje Thanks, Joosje.
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Eric Phillips beautiful!
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Eric Phillips wonderful, Eric. Always doing better
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I have started on no 2, 3, 7 and 16. I played 3 many years ago, but I see that I have problems with the barres. For 16 I am using an arrangement in higher position, which gives the piece a dark and introvert character. However I think it adds quite a few technical difficulties. However I am glad to escape the barre in first position.
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Gunnar Those are four of the best ones. I like to play number 16 with the melody on the second string as much as possible. It just sings better than the first string. It could be done one way the first time and the other way on the repeat.
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Gunnar Great, looking forward to further updates from you! It's a great selection!
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Yes, exactly, I have thought about what you suggested about the repeat
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Martin, love the Carcassi Challenge. These are a wonderful set of Etudes and working on them again is like reuniting with old friends. I plan to work on three Etudes per week and am working off the Llobet edition with edits and fingering by Abel Carlevaro.
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Dale Needles Awesome, glad to have you on board, feel free to share some Carlevaro insights with us!!!
Awesome that this Challenge helped you rediscover those etudes! -
Dale Needles great Dale! Hope to hear some video updates by you and to see those Carlevaro fingerings and techniques
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Study 9.
I've worked on a scale etude (14) and an arpeggio etude (2), so now I'm going to try a slur etude. I really like number 9, and I've never played it before, so that's what I'm choosing. The video is just an initial reading of the piece. I will continue to work on it and post my progress. I apologize for the mistaken G natural in measure 26.
What was easy: It has a very clear form and phrasing and it is very guitaristic, generally fitting well under the fingers.
What was difficult:
- Measure 2 - The slur from G# to F# in the second beat requires a quick position shift (at least the way I'm playing it).
- Measure 19 - The pull-off from the twelfth fret to the open string could be hard to execute cleanly. I might just play it without a pull-off.
- Measure 23 - The transition from measure 22 to 23 will need work.
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Eric Phillips very nice Eric. You have a great tone
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Eric Phillips Congratulations, knowing how to read so well makes everything easier, there is a lot to learn from you, bravo !!!
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Derek Thanks, Derek.
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Giuseppe Gasparini Thanks, Giuseppe!
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
