Week 3: Italy in 19th !
Welcome to the Main Thread for the second week of the "Around the 19th Century Guitar World" challenge!
Italy was the birthplace of many great classical guitar virtuosos, although many of them found success outside of the Italian peninsula. Paganini was arguably one of the greatest violinists of all time, but was also a very talented guitarist and performed regularly with Legnani. Regondi, technically from Switzerland, followed in the Italian style of composition and was also a gifted multi-instrumentalist.
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Se inclinassi a prender moglie - Rossini/Giuliani
This little piece was the only piece in my library that matched this week's 19th-century Italian theme. At first, I thought this one would be an easy one, but I was totally wrong! Those consecutive slurs were nightmares! No matter how I played them, I could not make them sing. I need to find more Tonebase lessons to practice my slur again!
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joosje Mustafa is a character in the opera L’italiana in Algeri. He is a Muslim potentate who tries, unsuccessfully, to rid himself of his wife by marrying her off to his slave, Lindoro. In the duet on which the Giuliani piece is based, Mustafa is asking Lindoro whether he is inclined to take a wife. (‘Se inclinassi a prender moglie.’) So when Eric joked that the question is coming too late for him, since he is already married, I pointed out (in jest, of course) that he might be the one asking the question!
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David Krupka Thanks, David. I think I was "pulling notes across the strings" type because if I just lifted the fingers up, the second note (unplucked note) would be too soft to hear.
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Eric Phillips Thanks, Eric. I have watched Bradford Werner's video, his slurs were incredibly smooth and beautiful, I am banging my head against the wall right now.
And do you know what they say? It's never too late ....................................................................................................................... I mean to learn guitar.
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joosje Thanks, joosje. Just found that Martin had a new Livestream lesson about slur, that's what I need right now. And I also don't know who Mustafa is, a relative of Mufasa?
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Wai That was great, Wai. I didn't detect any difficulty in your playing, You actually made it look easy.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack! It was harder than I thought, and actually, I looked grumpy in the video.
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Legnani - Caprice 22 (July 27 update)
I continue to work on this piece, but I feel like I've hit the wall. No matter what I do, I cannot get the chord changes to be quick and accurate, and the melody is just not legato, especially in the Eb major section. I'm getting the feeling that I just don't have the left hand fitness for this one. I'm sure martin would tell me that I need to do my daily slur exercises, and he is correct, of course. Maybe if I do them and revisit this in a year or two, I'll be able to get it sounding better.
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Eric Phillips you’re doing great and there is definitely progress. these pieces look so playable, but on our modern guitars they sound more difficult. I think on period guitars, the tones lasting shorter, legato has a different feel. We can try to imitate that style of playing by stressing less, with lighter and softer attack than we tend to use in our more expressive late romantic style pieces (Tarrega e.a.). I’m not sure if this makes any sense. I’m also constantly hitting those stone barriers trying to make these capriccios sound light and playful. But your playing is beautiful. Really enjoyed listening
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Eric Phillips That is sounding really good, Eric. This looks like a very difficult piece, especially musically. I have never played anything by Legnani, but know I would have a big challenge getting the music to work. You have a very good grasp of it.
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Eric Phillips I think you’re too hard on yourself, Eric, and perhaps a little impatient. This is already a noticeable improvement over your first take, which was, after all, made only a few days ago. (And how many other pieces have you learned in the meantime!?) I agree it’s frustrating when our fingers don’t react as quickly as we would like them to. (Believe me, I experience a lot of that!
) But I find, in general, what seems impossible at first eventually feels ‘natural’. Often, for me, this involves working the fingers at first on their own, then in pairs, and so on, until they all participate in one coordinated movement. (Which is why, at present, it takes me forever to learn a new piece … 
) And I should say that your left hand looks very good to me - always well placed, little extraneous movement, and so on. Some of the repertoire you’re playing (like this Caprice) is quite challenging. I would guess that even someone like Tariq Harb needed to practice it a little before taking it to the studio! Perhaps you just need to give yourself more time with it. -
David Krupka Thank you for the encouragement, David. Patience is not my strength when it comes to playing guitar. (Maybe I need to be more patient with myself regarding my impatience?
This reminds me of the guy who wanted to work on his procrastination, but he kept putting it off.)
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Emilia Giuliani (arr.) - L'Amo Ah! L'Amo by Vincenzo Bellini
I thought I'd add a piece by Mauro Giuliani's daughter, Emilia. Her six preludes are readily available online, but they are all quite difficult. After digging around a bit, I was able to find this piece. It's actually just the theme, and Emilia wrote five variations and a finale on the theme. The variations are beyond me technically (and I could not find a free score for them), but this theme is not too difficult.
Here are two related links, if you are interested:
- The Bellini aria from his opera "I Capuleti e Montecchi" sung by none other than Luciano Pavarotti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dXoTr5DHrY
- The full theme and variations performed by Federica Artuso on a period instrument. She is fantastic, and well worth checking out. She plays left handed, and with the guitar at an extreme angle. She also makes rather intense facial gestures while playing. (Jack Stewart She has a great version of Stanchen on her YT channel as well.) Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNiQ0_bLuWk
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Eric Phillips That was beautiful, Eric. I have heard Emilia Giuliani's Preludes but not this Theme (and Variations). It is quite impressive and surprising it doesn't have a greater presence in Guitar performance. Listening to EG's Prelude #1, it certainly seems possible.
I followed your link to Federica Artuso's performance of Stanchen. I completely agree with you, It is beautiful, - very different from Dyen's or Ceku's. Artuso has a unique voice in guitar performance. Her version of Piazzola's Premavera Poerteno is also quite nice, but, again, very different than the more energetic performances usually given.
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Eric Phillips I like this one, always love listening to this kind of sweet & romantic guitar music. Thanks for sharing!
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Eric Phillips that was so beautiful. Emilia’s music is more romantic than her father’s i general. I really enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing it.
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Jack Stewart Wai joosje Thank you!
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Legnani Capriccio 28 (update)
A more moderate tempo. Still continuing practice. This is a snapshot. I’m beginning to really like these capriccios. I might start using the practice forum for these pieces.
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joosje That sounds so good, Joosje. I hear so much wonderful dynamics, rubato, and change of tone color. Really beautiful!
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joosje This is starting to sound very good, Joosje. I don’t know that it’s the slower tempo per se, but perhaps this is what permits you greater musical control. The piece really ‘sings’ now!
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joosje That was beautiful, Joosje. I used to be less convinced of Legnani's compositions but you are causing me to revise my opinion.
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Jack Stewart thanks, Jack. I feel the same as you - never really charmed with Legnani. Until recently. That’s what these challenges are good for…. tempting us to discover. It’s a more lyrical, operatic approach to music than I was acquainted with. So, yes, happy to discover and trying to adopt at least some of this style, which is not my natural expression…
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This is another charming one in the series. Capriccio No. 2. It should be much faster, I know, but it’s all new to me and it needs practice/time. This is a reconnaissance mission
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joosje This is one I know, as I worked on it a while back (maybe 2+ years ago). I could never get it going as fast as your already playing it. I actually like it better at a speed like this. It's often played super fast, which is impressive, but I enjoy listening to it more at this tempo.
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joosje Another impressive performance, Joosje. You certainly have an affinity for Legnani's music.
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Sorry for my insisting on the capriccios. I just thought at least one of us should try to post the famous No. 7, Hannah introduced to us.
Please forget about the ‘prestissimo’. I’m learning the piece, not yet performing
I had to put on new strings up yesterday. D-string broke, didn’t happen to me for a long time - changed the whole set, Now used my Knobloch (Leo Brouwers choice?) , they are a bit on the bright side for my taste. Feel is also a bit different. Less flexible than I’m used to.
and, being new, they are noisy with shifting!
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
