WEEK 2: La Guitarra Espanola! 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the second week of our musical Journey to Spain!! This is the place to share submissions of the second week! 
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
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
↓ HAPPY PRACTICING, HAPPY SHARING ↓
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Rodrigo En los Trigales
Well, I almost got the initial recording in the first week. This needs a lot of work but I feel I am within the ballpark. The middle section is pretty shaky, as is the ending.......
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Jack Stewart really impressive, Jack. It’s a great piece and you capture the rhythm and sound nuances so well. The trills are also great, not easy at all.
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Martin Thanks Martin. It took me a while to actually record my first submission. Igor gave me links to 2 wonderful lessons on this, Rafael Aguiirre and Sabrina Vlaskalic - who was tragically killed while riding bike. (I guess they are not currently available for broadcast due to copyright issues that are being negotiated.)
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Olli Thanks Olli. It is a wonderful piece that I have wanted to learn for years. So, now is the time.
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Dale Needles Thanks Dale. Challenging it is - certainly for me. Hopefully I will have wrestled under control by the end of the challenge.
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Emma Thanks Emma. I hope to have an improved recording by the weekend.
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Steve Pederson Thanks Steve. I have heard this is one of the first pieces composed for guitar by a non-guitarist. It really is a modern compact masterpiece. Hopefully I can refine it considerably.
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joosje Thanks Joosje.
The trills are a challenge (certainly for me) - especially the 2nd set with the leap to that bass run. -
Jack Stewart great Jack!!, you have such a nice spanisch air for these "trigales" moving on the air. A difficult piece ! you are doing very well!
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Nora Torres-Nagel Nora Torres-Nagel Thanks Nora. I hope to record an update today - assuming I recover from a rather grueling bike ride yesterday.
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Jack Stewart I am also feeling my knees today from my bike ride of yesterday!!!! ouuu ouuuuu
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Jack Stewart Bravo Jack. That's well within the ballpark!. Very impressed and looking forward to another video soon. I think you capture the attitude very well :-)
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Nora Torres-Nagel Are you a cyclist also? I have been for years. I am slow but persistent - kind of like how learn guitar.
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Jack Stewart I actually used to be very avid cyclist. For several years, if you asked me what my main hobby was, I'd have said cyclist over guitar. Unfortunately, I developed some pretty bad lower back issues, and now I only take short rides with my kids. I even sold my road bike
and now ride an old hybrid. -
Eric Phillips I am so sorry to hear about your back issues. I occasionally have back problems, sometimes quite painful but rarely more than a day or 2. So far they don't seem to affect my cycling. Probably because I am so slow. I used to jog (also quite slowly) but back and muscle problems put a stop to that. Enjoy your rides with your kids - I'm sure you do. I wish I could get my daughter to ride with me.
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Jack Stewart Add me to the list of cycling enthusiasts! Although for me, it's mostly about a better way of commuting. No back problems, but I've bashed up my wrists once or twice. (Toronto streets are full of hazards - like those @#$%! streetcar tracks, invisible under the winter snow!) Hasn't helped my playing any, that's for sure!
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I decided to play through one of the most beautiful pieces written by Torroba (and in general), the sacred second movement of his Sonatina
I played this for my entrance exam for studying with my Prof. Joaquin Clerch and probably haven't played it since (that's why is everything is quite a bit too slow). Time passes so quickly (it's more than 10 years), but the fingers somehow never forget! I went for some impressionistic campanella style fingerings that feel quite special.
There are some wonky bits, bit I think I captured the general feeling for that piece. Some worked better than before, especially around 1:55, and it's probably the only time I use a barred middle finger in 2:03!
And that jazzy feeling in 2:55, ah, I can't get over the beauty of this piece. The whole Sonatina is a gem, but the second movement belongs into my personal hall of fame
And I can't believe I nailed these last artifical harmonics, haha!
(and there's a small bonus peak into the third movement in the end)
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Martin That's a piece you haven't played in ten years?! I could work on it for ten years straight and it would not be as beautiful! I like a lot of music by Torroba, but that has to be my favorite. Love the sneak peak too!
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Martin wow - this is the place were magic happened !
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Martin That was absolutely beautiful. I agree with Eric about the 10 year rule. If I haven't played something for a week it's like I have never played it.
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Martin That second movement of the Sonatina is so beautiful and agree that it is one of Torroba's finest.
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Martin beautiful, Bravo!!!
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Martin wonderful piece, beautiful performance!
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Martin toll!
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Martin a masterpiece. You captured the mood of this music admirably. Inspiring. I once hoped I would ever be able to play it. It will take some time, but you’re showing the way! Omg, these harmonics! Perfect.
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Martin so nice!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
