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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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 Great work Jack!
Is the transcription yours?
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Roni Glaser Thanks Roni. No, this is from a collection of Chopin transcription by Richard Yates (Chopin: 21 Selected Pieces). It is a good selection of pieces and seem to be well done.
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Jack Stewart Great work Jack - very energetic performance - I like it
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Derek Thanks Derek
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Jack Stewart Interesting, I think the Bach sound is probably from the bass, which appears to have quite a presence in the transcription. If I remember rightly, the left hand of the original piano has a lower bass note on the downbeat and then two chords on beats 2 and 3. Because of the smaller range fewer "keys" (that is, strings and fingers) on the guitar, I expect the two chords have been combined with the bass, although I haven't seen the score. I suppose if you want it more Chopin-sounding, you could play the bass note on the first beat as a normal bass, and then be lighter on the second two beats. I think that might give more presence to the main melody too. What do you think?
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Jack Stewart so good, very rhythmic . So good
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Roni Glaser Thanks for the heads up on this,
Roni. I admit I have a lot of refinement to smooth the piece out. I will try to focus more on the balance of voices. I checked the original piano score and it is mostly basic om-pah-pah waltz accompaniment in the left hand. Roland Dyens maintains this but he raises the 2 lower strings to F# and B which I don't want to deal with yet. His transcription and performance of this piece is excellent however.
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Jack Stewart Great start, I can't wait to hear your progression on this piece. I never tried Chopin on the guitar, sounds quite difficult.
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Hélène Beaulieu Thanks Helene. I 'discovered' Chopin about 3years ago. I especially like his character pieces (Mazurkas, Waltzes, Preludes etc). I do find them difficult but I do find them rewarding.Thanks for listening. Hopefully I will record a more f=refined version soon.
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Jack Stewart Yes, it's a complicated matter transcribing Chopin! Or any keyboard music for that matter. I've always found that it's important, and very difficult, not overload the guitar with too much of what the musical idea is, even if it is kind of playable. I find the same goes for guitar composition in general. And in Chopin the main melody is already full enough!
It looks like in the transcription you've played, the transcriber has opted for a bass melody to create the harmony, I imagine the notes from original the "pah-pah" bit have been shared between the bass in beats two and three, with the first beat as the original (with probably a good few octave transpositions)? A very interesting solution, I can imagine the transcriber must have had fun making sure the bass melody worked, while preserving the harmony. I guess this is tending towards an arrangement rather than a transcription, and so I reckon you could say you have some artistic licence not to play it exactly in the Chopin style, and justify you Bachianism
Well done again on your playing!
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Eric Phillips That was beautiful. So soulful. You are an inspiration Eric....
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Schumann Traumerei (Op 15 No 7)
Here is a transcription I found in a couple of places. Apparently it is a very well-known melody, but I confess I do not know it at all. Schumann's Opus 15 is titled Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) and this movement is called Traumerei (Dreaming). It is written for piano, of course.
I am working off of two transcriptions I found of the piece. One is by Tarrega (surprise!) and is in the collection of pieces that Martin posted for us. For some reason, it has the title "Reverie" on it, but it is clearly this piece. I also found a transcription of it by Frederick Noad in one of his anthologies. What I am playing is a mix of the two transcriptions, with some of my own adaptations as well.
On a side note, one thing I really like about playing transcriptions is the sense of freedom it gives me to change what I see on the page. I claim no special giftedness at transcription, but I find playing around with music to be really enjoyable.
This one is pretty challenging for me, so it may take me the rest of the challenge and beyond. We''ll see!
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Eric Phillips You're really beginning to push my buttons Erich!
Beautiful beginning. You're initial walk thrus are equivalent to my weeks of intensive practice. I don't know how you do it.
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Jack Stewart Oh, I'm sorry, Jack! Is this considered Romantic music, too? I thought it may have been Baroque. Or maybe it's atonal. It reminds me a bit of John Cage. Not sure.
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Eric Phillips beautiful music. I enjoyed listening.. Looking forward to the progress. I must admit I admire you’re energy: all these great pieces in such short time!
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joosje Thank you, Joosje. Energy is not my problem. Focus is!
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Eric Phillips I see what you mean Eric, but you are going fast and far on this adventurous discovery tour. it’s amazing….
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Eric Phillips I love this piece! Never heard of it before. It doesn't sound like it was transcribed for guitar.
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don Thanks, Don. They say that is the sign of a good transcription.
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Eric Phillips A great piece to work on Eric - I'm with Jack on his comment though. Very impressed
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Eric Phillips Hi Eric, I've always loved this piece ever since I listened to the piano recording by Vladimir Horowitz (take a listen to it if you have time). There is also a nice transcription by Angel Romero fyi. The challenge is keeping the melody as legato as possible, and handling some delicate dynamics. You are doing a nice job so far. Thank you for reminding us about this great piece. I'm going to put on the Horowitz recording right now, haha.
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Barney Thanks, Barney. Here's the recording I found of Horowitz. It is really outstanding! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq7ncjhSqtk
I can only find Romero's transcription available for purchase (not free), so I think I'm going to go with what I have.
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Eric Phillips Did you notice the people in the audience crying as they witnessed Horowitz playing this piece? Horowitz was such an Amazing artist and lengendery pianist, it was not usual for him to have that affect on his listeners...(including me).
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I admit I’m a bit off schedule. Many things happening around me keeping me from active practice. Yet, I’m working on the incredibly beautiful Capricho Catalan, inspired by Manny’s live lesson. It takes time to get ready for recording. So, not yet.
in the meantime, as an intermezzo I practiced for a little while this charming little piece from the film ´La Vita e Bella’: ‘ Buongiorno Principessa’. It takes more than one practice session, but I would like you to know this one., so I’m giving it a go as it is….
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joosje So lovely, Joosje! I remember seeing that film when it came out (I was living in Italy at the time), but I don’t remember the music at all. That is my kind of piece - a beautiful, slow melody, with rich harmonies. It works so well on the guitar, and you played it beautifully! Thank you for sharing, and I am looking forward to hearing Capricho Catalan.
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