Week 1: A Guitar has Six Strings, Right? 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the transcription challenge! This is the place to discuss the Week 1 livestream.
- 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
↓ Reply below with your Progress Update and Questions! ↓
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So this is the recording for day 4. Just the intro and first verse. Still a lot of work to do, but happy with the result I guess. Oh the first chord is just a mistake, I was too lazy to edit.
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Hélène Beaulieu Very well played Helene. I've been working on this piece for a while now. I keep putting it to one side and then coming back to it. Your guitar sounds very nice
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I am happy to join the transcription challenge and to learn about new transcriptions and to share with you all two arrangements/transcription of pieces by Astor Piazzolla. I have chosen to work on two movements from Astor Piazzolla’s and Horacio Ferrer’s Tango Opera, Maria de Buenos Aires. Maria de Buenos Aires was written in 1968 and first performed in Buenos Aires. The piece is in six movements and I have chosen the first movement, Alevare and the fourth movement, Poema Valseado. I am working on the free arrangement by Agustin Carlevaro, the brother of Maestro Abel Carlevaro. Agustin was an architect by profession as well as an accomplished guitarist who focused on transcribing tangos and related repertoire for the guitar. He is quite well known in Uruguay and Argentina for his numerous publications of works of Piazzolla and other tango composers.
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Dale Needles I love Piazzolla and almost selected his Verano Porteno, but instead went with Gershwin (maybe next time). I really look forward o hearing this. I hope you post.
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Dale Needles great Dale ! Piazzolla is my heart....looking forward to hear your interpretations...
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Schubert Adieu (trans Tarrega) Update Jan 7
I haven't posted in a few days, but I have continued practicing Tarrega's transcription of this Schubert song. I have made a few fingering changes to make the melody more legato.
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Eric Phillips wow! so musical. Listening is a real joy, the phrasing, rubato, vibrato. It’s all there. Wonderful performance, Eric!
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joosje Thank you for such kind words, Joosje!
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@Eric Phillips Ok. Fine, Eric. You've convinced me that is a beautiful work (against my will mind you) That was great. Really beautifully played.
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Eric Phillips That was beautiful. So soulful. You are an inspiration Eric .....
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Jack Stewart Thank you, Jack! I think you're a closet romantic.
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margaret macarthur Thanks so much, Margaret!
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Eric Phillips NNNNNoooooooo
I'm not going to grow up!
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Eric Phillips Well done, it sound good. It seem you doesn't use any rest stroke, pheraps it could be usufull in some passages, doesn't it?
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ivan paolo Thanks, Ivan. Good idea. I really have never been a rest stroke guy at all until I worked on it a bit in the Virtuosity Challenge last Spring (I think?). It stills feels very unnatural for me to use it, but maybe it would help bring the melody out in a few places. I'll give it a try.
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Eric Phillips I don't know which is better Eric, the music or your playing - both beautiful
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Derek Thank you, Derek, very kind.
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Chopin Valse Op. 69.2 Complete ... sort of.
This is a complete recording of the Chopin Waltz (well, I didn't play the repeat of the B section - you're welcome
) It went fairly well, though it does begin to fall apart a bit in the last half 
. I hope to have a more refined recording next week. I am also beginning work on some other transcriptions which will have their own thread when I get them. Sorry for the double post. I haven't figured this out yet - me being an old dog and this is a new trick.
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Jack Stewart Really great, Jack! Is it just me, or does some of this sound Bach-like with the counterpoint? The descending chromatic bits seem like they'd be particularly challenging, but you're nailing them. What a great piece of music!
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric. I have heard that Bach was a big influence on Chopin so there is probably a strong connection there. But then what composer wasn't influenced by Bach. Yes, the chromatic descending lines required a lot of time and effort (and still do). And I have a difficult time making the C section sound right. It's not as challenging and therefore more exposed. I have found a lot of Chopin I like. There is a lot I don't care for as well but the pieces I do like I like a lot. I think I am going to try and learn his Op. 28 #15 Prelude (Tarrega trans). It has a wonderfully dramatic B section. I have a couple of Mazurkas to revive and at least one more waltz (op. 64.2) that I want to tackle at some point.
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Jack Stewart That all sounds great. I really love Op 28 No 15! I like the versions of it by Lorenzo Micheli and Patrik Kleemola on YT.
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Jack Stewart that’s great Jack. well played, nice speed, rhythm and energy. Looking forward to more Chopin from you.
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Jack Stewart Great work, this is a challenging piece. Keep going. I love the Roland Dyens arrangement of this piece, it is in my list of music to learn.
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Eric Phillips I completely agree on your preferred versions and they are each very different
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ivan paolo Thanks Ivan. The Dyens sounds wonderful but It requires some unusual scordatura which I have shied away from. I have more than enough trouble with trying to work in standard tuning. Maybe at some future time.
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joosje Thanks Joosje. I started exploring Chopin a couple fo years ago and am completely surprised how much I like his compositions. I had tended to avoid romantic composers but I am coming around.
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