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 ↓
-
Sor - Op 60 No 14
Fernando Sor is my favorite composer for guitar, and I have already posted quite a few videos of his music. At first, I actually thought I would not play any of his pieces in this challenge, in an effort to change things up a bit (for me). Then the man himself sent me a message (see below), and I changed my mind.
Starting tomorrow, I will post some pieces by Sor that I have never played before. But today, I thought I'd start on familiar ground, Op 60. This collection of 25 pieces at the beginning and intermediate level is full of real gems, like this one in E minor. Not only is it beautiful, but it serves as really good practice of several basic techniques (like grace note slurs while holding a chord, for example).
-
Eric Phillips That was great.I also really like that piece. It has a quiet charm.
You should never ignore a threat from beyond the grave. (BTW "grace...slurs" seems oxymoronic, no?)
-
Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. Yes, those words are somewhat opposite. Maybe I should eat some jumbo shrimp while I play this?
-
Eric Phillips really beautiful as it is simple. Love it! And your meme is hilarious!
-
Steve Pederson Thanks, Steve!
-
Eric Phillips this peace I often hear in my mind
-
Stefanie Mosburger-Dalz That’s a nice tune to have stuck in your mind!
-
Eric Phillips You definitely have an affinity for Sor. Very beautifully played.
-
Dale Needles Thank you, Dale!
-
Eric Phillips Wow, it was fantastic! Everything was so perfectly executed! I have never heard of this piece before, but now I know I have to put it in my practice list also.
-
Wai Thanks, Wai!
-
Eric Phillips you really have Sor in the veins... Beatiful execution, thank you! In fact, there are no SORry to don't play. =)
-
Eric Phillips this is such a beautiful melody. Beautiful, Eric.
-
Moyses Lopes Thanks, Moyses!
-
joosje Thanks, Joosje!
-
Eric Phillips haha... you'll always surprise me, and for sure you would have been Sor-ry if you have forgot to play some of him! Nice little piece as Sor is a genius to compose.
-
Eric Phillips very nice Erik ! I should post my Sor study also....let`s see..... thanks for your music
-
Nora Torres-Nagel Thanks, Nora. I’d love to hear you play some Sor!
-
-
Hello everybody! I cant keep up watching you all!!! and apparently I can't keep up with the challenge. Already in week 2 and now my Cádiz is progressing. Already all memorised except for the coda... and rehearsing slowly. I can't produce a video yet. What is difficult, Albeniz's Cadiz is full of changes in speed dynamics. I am listening to a beautiful piano performance by Alicia de Larrocha and it is just the dynamics I am looking for in my head ... and then, it is full of triplets that must sound whole and well and many times one note is missing or mixed... then we have those slurs where I stumble if I don't stumble in any of the other things. So, my goal is to have a recording ready for week 4 which will still be a practice video. But enjoying it 100 per cent
-
Emma Good to hear, Emma. I look forward to your performance! It's such a beautiful piece of music.
-
Emma ooh yeah, Cadiz is one of my all time favorites! Can't wait to hear your submission!
-
Emma I admire your determination Emma. Keep it up. I am struggling with the De Falla Homenaje, your persistence is inspiring.
-
-
Sor's Study in Bm is a classic and has been with me for a looooong time. I first heard it, like so many songs I fell in love with, from a Segovia cassette I had back in the 90s.
Even though the song with has been with me for a long time - and I have even made piano accompaniment for a live performance of it - I continue to apply new techniques that I'm learning - from even last night - to my performance of it. It's such a simple piece, which allows you to go deep and constantly be learning from it.
This version has a guest appearance by a passing ambulance!
As I listen back to this, I think one improvement I could make is going a little easier on the accompaniment notes - letting the melody notes shine out a bit more.
-
Steve Pederson Really nice, Steve! This is one of those pieces (like Lagrima) that showcases our musicality more than our technical virtuosity. You played it very beautifully, with nice phrasing and dynamics. It’s also great to have someone join me in playing some Sor.
-
Eric Phillips thanks! (And I've got more Sor where that came from!)
-
Steve Pederson Nice job Steve. That is indeed an iconic etude by Sor.
-
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
