The Dance Challenge Week Two
Let’s dance!
In this community-driven challenge, we will be playing dance music. So, choose a piece from any time period, location, or culture that is set to a dance rhythm. Whether it be an Italian Saltarello, an Argentinian Tango, or something in between, let’s get our toes tapping and our fingers dancing across the guitar strings.
This challenge will last four weeks, until Saturday, June 7th. A new thread will be posted each week.
In week one, we had music from Tansman, Stachak, J.S. Bach, Lauro and Aguado. Let’s keep it going!
If there are any beginners looking for suggested pieces, please feel free to ask the community.
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Part two of the Nicolaes Vallet cycle.
Branle and La Sarabande Espagnolle.this time I played without the capo for a brighter sound. But I’m still not sure what works better.
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joosje Again, so beautiful! The Branle has some pep to it, and you played the rhythms very crisply. As usual, the Sarabande seems like the heart of the cycle, and it is such a tender melody.
It looks like you're playing in standard tuning. Do you know if this was originally written for Renaissance lute tuning (3rd string down a half-step)?
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joosje It is really nice to hear these Renaissance pieces, Joosje. Beautifully played. The Sarabande sounds like it might be based on a folk song.
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Eric Phillips the facsimiles should be available, but I haven’t seen the original scores. this was an early transcription by my teacher, maybe in different keys, in those days I didn’t even dare to ask (or even think about that)
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joosje I was able to find lute tablatures for two of these three pieces by Vallet. Take a look, if you're interested. Obviously, the 3rd string needs to be lowered a half-step. Also, we don't have all the bass strings, as they were written for the 8- and 9-course lute, respectively.
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joosje Two more Renaissance pieces what a treat! Thank you Joosje
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joosje These are wonderful pieces, and very well-played. I especially like the Sarabande.
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Aguado - Waltz Op 8 No 3
I like the elegance of this short waltz.
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Eric Phillips Excellent performance, Eric.
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Eric Phillips elegant is the word! Beautifully played and controlled with tasteful and crisp accents and sweet flowing phrases. True dance stuff.
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Eric Phillips Beautifully played Eric. The waltz is one of my favourite dance forms
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Eric Phillips That's really nice, Eric. I think Aguado really excels in these shorter character pieces.
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Chopin Mazurka #22 Op. 33.1 (transcription Stephen Aron)
This is another piece that I originally recorded for the October 2025 Transcription Challenge.
My fake nails fell off yesterday so I have tried using silk wrap. Unfortunately my nails are too short for that to be effective. If I get new nails done (I do them myself and they take me a while) I'll try to repost.
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Jack Stewart beautiful, Jack. Must be uncomfortable to have to play such a colourful piece with imperfect nails. It’s a great arrangement and I can already clearly hear the musical intentions and direction of the phrasing. Excellent.
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joosje Thanks Joosje. I am so tired of having nail issues. I have tried going nailless for several months and never liked it. Ahh... the joys of getting old.
I also have Tarrega's transcription but I think I prefer Aron's. (I also have Jerzy Koenig's transcription but it is very similar to Aron's.)
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Jack Stewart That looks so difficult for both hands (but especially the left), so kudos for just being able to play it. I would love to be able to play more Chopin like this.
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Jack Stewart Lovely Jack. I sympathize re the nails - I started using Nailtiques Formula 2 a few months ago and it does seem to help, but as you say, getting older doesn't help!
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Chopin Mazurka Op. 24.1
This will probably be my last post for this challenge as I leave tomorrow for LA.
This piece Is still a work in progress. I have some technical issues that I haven't got under control and I am not satisfied with my phrasing. But it is getting there.I think this is a beautiful Mazurka and I want to keep it in my repertoire.
I reinstalled the fake nails which has helped, even though one is already about to fall off.
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Jack Stewart That is a beautiful mazurka. I love the contrast between the sections.
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Jack Stewart Another lovely Chopin transcription Jack, Hope you have a great time in LA!
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Jack Stewart Very nice, Jack. Sorry to hear about the nail drama, but hope you enjoy LA. There's so much I love about the guitar, but nail care is not part of that.
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Jack Stewart another beautiful, rather theatrical mazurka. Already sounding very convincing to me. Tough piece to learn. Enjoy LA
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Bogdanovic: Suite brève: III. Sarabande
Just learned about Dusan Bogdanovic's Hommage to J.S. Bach, Suite brève. There are some very tough movements, but they're actually not too bad compared to some of his other work. This is by far the easiest, but it needs work. Really a lovely suite, and it's interesting to hear Bach-like music with some modern chords (always very respectfully, not gimmicky).
It calls for the sixth string to be C#, so I had to break out my alternate tunings guitar. I bought this in Osan, Korea in 1988, and somehow it survived all this time across half a dozen countries. It's a "Segovia" brand guitar so I knew it had to be good, lol.
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Steve Price Very nice Steve! I hadn't come across this before so I listened to the whole suite today. I particularly liked the gigue with it's nod to the prelude from the 4th lute suite at the end. Great work.
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Steve Price Very nice, Steve! I don't hear the similarity to Bach (due to my own musical shortcomings, no doubt), but I did enjoy it.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
