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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Lauro's La Negra and Aguado's Waltz Op 8 No 2
I tried a new approach here to the Lauro. The first time through the A section, I am going very slowly and freely. Then I come in a tempo (or at least a MY tempo) on the repeat.
The D section of the Aguado waltz has some interesting harmonies that seem a bit ahead of his time.
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Eric Phillips Excellent, Eric. I think improvisational approach to the first section and then 'a tempo' in its repeat is very effective. In fact a bit more rubato at the end of the first time to create a greater contrast might be warranted. All in all a beautiful performance.
The Aguado op. 8.2 Waltz is also very nice. It does explore some very interesting 'dark' areas as it progresses. Thanks for introducing Aguado to me. I had never considered him very interesting but have recently been open to a greater range of his music after doing more exploration after hearing your performances.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. I’ll gone your suggestion a try.
The Aguado opus is certainly no masterpiece, but it’s fun and has a very dance-like character.
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Eric Phillips that’s really beautiful. The Aguado piece is lovely and you give it all of its eloquence in you playing. Your approach in La Negra is very convincing, I like it.
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Eric Phillips Very nice on both pieces, Eric. Aguado does do some interesting things. I kind of like when I'm surprised where a piece goes harmonically. I had an old Segovia CD, and he played several Aguado pieces, and they were always my favorite on the disc.
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BWV 996 Courante
I posted this back in the February 2023 Challenge and have just revived it. I believe this is a better version (except for the stumble/memory lapse in the repeat of the 'B' section). I still have work to be done on this but I feel pretty good about the technical aspects. I am slowly chipping away it the full BWV 996 Suite.
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Jack Stewart That’s beautiful, Jack! Your hard work and perseverance are really paying off.
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Jack Stewart bravo, Jack. This is such a magnificent piece. I admire your level of playing , it sounds strong and secure, with very well timed and controlled trills.
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Jack Stewart swinging!
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Jack Stewart That's awesome, Jack. I once had learning all of 996 as a guitar goal, but it keeps getting further and further away.
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric. This piece has certainly been a long slog but I do feel I have achieved much more solid control. However, the work goes on.
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joosje Thanks Joosje. This piece has long been a goal and focus for me. Only 4 more pieces to complete the suite.
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Ingo Thanks Ingo. (Swinging - as in the use of notes inegales?)
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Steve Price Thanks Steve. I have that same goal. I have the Allemande, Courante and Bourree. Now all I have left to do are all of the hard pieces.
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Decided to join the challenge and not wait till the last week…
I plan to make regular recordings of short pieces every week, to get myself more accustomed to the mics and video stress. And not care too much about recording quality in this phase.
This is the first short dance: an Allemande named ‘fortune helas pourquois’, bij Nicolaes Vallet. A French born lutist and composer who moved to the Northern Netherlands around 1600. he lived , teached and composed in Amsterdam. He was self employed, which was quite exceptional in those days. He was also his own editor and sold his songs and dances from his house.
It was my first teacher who adapted a few pieces for guitar, and I remember I really liked playing them.
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joosje That's a gorgeous piece, Joosje. And your tone is awesome. Very nice.
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joosje Beautiful, Joosje. You have such a command of this music. I agree with the Steve that your tone is wonderful.
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joosje That is gorgeous, Joosje! You really captured the aesthetic of the period. I only wish it were longer.
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Another of Alexandre Tansman's short pieces for guitar, this time his Sicilienne.
I knew he was born in Poland, then became a French citizen, but I didn't realize that because of his Jewish heritage, he made Joseph Goebbels "Blacklist" and was forced to flee to the US. He ended up in Hollywood writing scores for films and was nominated for an Oscar for "Paris Underground" in 1946. (That has nothing to do with this piece, but I thought it was interesting.)
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Steve Price that’s really lovely Steve!
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Steve Price Another very enjoyable piece. Thanks for the bit of historical background on the man. I always appreciate knowing a little bit of what a composer has experienced and overcome.
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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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Aguado - Waltz Op 8 No 3
I like the elegance of this short waltz.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
