LAST WEEK: Over the Horizon!
Welcome to the "Around the World in 80 Strings Challenge"! This month, we'll embark on a global musical journey, exploring classical guitar compositions from various countries. The only rule: Don’t play a composer from your home country. Let’s make this a truly international experience!
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
- Challenge Start: Kick-Off on May 15th
- Duration: May 15th - June 24th
- Watch Party: June 24th
ACTIVITIES
- Choose Your Piece: Select a new piece of music to work on. Share your choice in the thread below and inspire your fellow musicians!
- Video Submission: Submit a video of your practice this week. Highlight your favorite passage from the piece that showcases the origin of this piece!
GET INVOLVED
Let’s kick things off with enthusiasm! Share your progress, encourage others, and explore new musical horizons together. Can’t wait to see what everyone chooses!
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Adelita (no nails)
Playing through some music this morning, I just was not liking the sound I was getting. Then, for whatever reason, I started playing this old warhorse. When I go slowly and pay very close attention to my right hand finger placement, I actually really like the sound. For whatever reason, the only finger I cannot get a good sound with today is my index. The B section of this piece has some stinker notes in it, probably because of all the three- and four-note chords.
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Eric Phillips It sounded great, Eric. For me, the thumb was the main problem when playing nail-less, every time I cut my nail, I have to wait 3 days for the sound to be acceptable. You sound really good, both with or without nails.
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Barney Thanks, Barney. And yes, my right hand has always moved around far too much. One of the many things I need to work on.
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Dale Needles Thanks Dale. I do love this sound. I just need to get it more consistently, especially with chords.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack. The jury is still out about it being a permanent change for me.
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Wai Thanks Wai. I actually find the thumb pretty easy to get a good flush sound. In fact, I have even kept a bit of nail on my thumb so I can have both sounds just by changing the angle of attack with my thumb.
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Eric Phillips as said by others: with or without nails, you always sound beautiful and your musicality always shines. Great.
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Here is a piece that I have been working on for the past few weeks entitled El Poncho by the Uruguayan composer, Eduardo Fabini (1882-1950). Fabini was known and respected for his many outstanding compositions of classical music which integrated Uruguayan folk elements. El Poncho was written for voice and piano and was transcribed for solo guitar by the Uruguayan guitarist, Atilio Rapat, who was a great friend and colleague of Maestro Abel Carlevaro. Maestro Carlevaro wrote in the introduction to Chanterelle's publication of El Poncho: "The significance of the musical output of this inspired composer (Fabini) together with the delicate and subtle guitar transcription by Mastro Atilio Rapat are important reasons for seeing that this piece reaches a wider audience through this edition."
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Dale Needles Beautiful, Dale! Thanks for expanding our knowledge of great repertoire out there.
I'm observing your right hand position , which seems placed more towards the bridge. It creates the bright tone and clarity you want in the piece. I'm wondering how it would sound playing closer to the sound hole for contrast in certain passages. I would love to also hear that beautiful guitar's warmer sound if your feel it's consistent with your interpretation. This is just my first impression; not a criticism. Wonderful playing!!
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Barney Thanks Barney, and good point about my playing close to the bridge, definitely a tendency of mine both out of habit and taste. I will definitely explore playing more over the sound hole as way to get more contrast and that rounder sound. I agree this piece would benefit from it.
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Dale Needles This is fascinating, Dale. It has a very folk feel to it but then it interspersed with more modern elements that provide an interesting contrast and compliment. Beautifully played.
Btw, I just got back from the GFA convention last night. It was very good, though much more subdued than NYC. My major regret is that I didn't get to see Petra Polakovich perform. I attended (watched) a workshop she gave with as wonderful. I would have had to spend 2 more nights in Fullerton to have seen her concert. I spent 2 nights there and that was a challenge!
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. This is an interesting little piece and fun to play. I will continue to work on it and see about trying to employ some of Barney's suggestions about highlighting more contrast and including more round romantic tones. Sounds like GFA was a good experience. I am not aware of Petra Polakovich but will be on the lookout for her.
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Dale Needles this is very nice, Dale. Beautiful, intriguing piece. Thank you for sharing your discoveries with us. Your playing is beautiful and your sound nice and even. It wouldn’t hurt, of course, to experiment a bit more with warmer sounds, sul tasto etc. Depending on the style of the piece you’re playing. It was a real pleasure listening to this one.
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joosje Thanks, Joosje. It is a beautiful piece and I really enjoyed studying it these past few weeks. This was a favorite of Carlevaro's which he played in concert many times. I also totally agree that I need to explore playing more sul tasto.
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Sadly, I was out of action for a while, giving care to family members in need. Almost no time for practicing.
im back home now and enjoyed listening to this last week’s submissions.
I had better intentions for this challenge, but alas. I decided to give it one last try and quickly recorded this piece I learned recently. Barrios’ Aconquija, part of his Suite Andina.
Here he uses different fragments of rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumental colours, typical in folklore music of the Andes region.
Note, I play carbon strings for the first time. Not sure if this is the best choice for my guitar and my style…
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joosje I never heard this one from Barrios, so thanks for sharing it! As usual, another wonderful performance by Joosje!
How do the carbon strings feel under your fingers? - grip, diameter, hardness, etc... they definitely sound brighter.
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joosje A very beauriful piece and as Barney indicated not often performed. Definitely has a Peruvian sound from Barrios' indio period, reminiscent of El Condor Pasa. I like your interpretation of the piece, particularly your phrasing. Very lovely playing.
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joosje Very interesting and impressive, Joosje. I join 'the chorus' of applauding your beautiful performance of this (unknown to me) piece. You continue to stretch your technique repertoire.
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joosje Beautiful, Joosje! New to me as well.
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José Viñas – Lamento Op 38
I know it’s the last day of this rather long challenge, but for a couple days now I have been working on this piece, so I thought I might as well post it. I recently heard it played by Isabella Selder on a Siccas video. When I looked up the score, it seemed to be within my technical ability to play. I have always enjoyed this slightly pre-Tárrega era of Spanish music that does not get played too often.
I’m still struggling with getting a good no-nail sound from all of my fingers. Both my index and middle fingers (especially the index) tend to give me this unpleasant tone with a distinct click in it. I’m hoping it magically goes away at some point, and becomes the round, sweet tone I want it to be.
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Eric Phillips This is beautiful, Eric. Also very impressive for only a couple of days work. I have seen Vinas' name in various collections but was not familiar with his work. I'll have to look further into him.
I find your tone quite good as is. I have had trouble with brittle sound w/ my short to no nail playing. I think my problem is that I now have callouses on my rh fingers, especially 'm' and 'a'. David Krupka recommended using hand lotion to soften the calluses and that seems to work.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. I don't feel any callouses, but I have been using hand lotion rather often for the last couple weeks. I just hate that feeling of not being able to twist open things like door knobs for a good 30 minutes after putting the lotion on! First World problems.
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