Week 3: "Composer's Corner: Exploring Villa-Lobos"
Welcome to the Main Thread for the third week of "Villa-Lobos Voyage" practice challenge!
Select a mesmerizing piece from Villa-Lobos or a composer connected to his Brazilian heritage. Whether it's a soulful Villa-Lobos composition, a rhythmic Brazilian-inspired work, or a piece by another artist inspired by the Brazilian musical tradition, the choice is yours!
Commit to regular practice and share your progress with the community. Strive to practice daily and upload at least two videos per week to showcase your musical voyage. This not only keeps you motivated but also allows you to share your artistic journey with our tonebase family.
Share your favorite performance or recording that captures the spirit of the "Villa-Lobos-Voyage Challenge." Your submission will inspire others and create a vibrant collection of potential pieces for fellow members to explore.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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HVL Prelude 2 B section (Aug 17)
For today, I tried to lift the tempo back up again, but maintain the control I had at the slower tempo, and keep the arpeggio audible, yet still subordinate to the bass note (power chord) melody. I think the volume balance is pretty good here, but I still don't quite have it completely under control. My two hands feel a bit like wild horses when I play this.
I am still trying to figure out how I want to play the ending of this section (measures 85-90). Most recordings I have heard just seem to play it as fast as possible until the rallentando in the last measure. That is what I am trying to do here, but it doesn't seem as effective as it should be.
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Eric Phillips You're getting close, Eric. But then the final refinements are like the progress bar on a computer startup - it sails thru the first 95% and then the last 5% take forever (what exactly do those %s refer to?)
Great job!
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Eric Phillips getting there and like what Jack says the last couple of % takes the longest.
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Jack Stewart don Thanks, guys. I always feel like my playing gets caught in what I call the "circle of death".
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Eric Phillips This is really coming along Eric! I’ve never worked this piece up, but I have looked at it during this challenge. In the B section, my score suggests ppima (drag a strings 1-4) on the first and similar measures. It’s fun to do, and quickens the tempo, but I find it hard to transition to measures like 6 and 8. You’re probably better off the way you’re doing it. Nice work on a lovely piece!
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Thanks Marilyn. I did play around with different right hand fingerings,, including dragging the a finger, but I settled on what I’m using right now. Thanks for the tip though.
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Villa Lobos Prelude 1 was the first "big piece" I played, over 50 years ago. I have played it from time to time over the years, and it's been fun to dust off the cobwebs for this challenge. I love the rich sound of his "cello" melody.
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Marilyn Blodget This is wonderful, Marilyn. I'd say you did more than dust off the cobwebs. You play this with such command and expressiveness.
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Marilyn Blodget wow! You got me from the first note. Some rustiness here and there but it is fully musicality and really enjoyable to listen to.
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don Thank you Don!
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack!
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Marilyn Blodget Really great work Marilyn, and it sounds amazing in your hands on that guitar!
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Steve Pederson Thank you Steve! I love my guitar!
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Marilyn Blodget that sounds really nice. Nice, cello-like basses. They sound like very new.
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joosje Thanks Joosje! It’s actually about time to change them again. Savarez high tension Alliance trebles and Cantiga basses.
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Marilyn Blodget I love this prelude, and you play it beautifully, as you bring out the wonderful "cello-like" sound from your Ramirez bass strings. ( These guitars have that special recognizable sound from the bass strings). I agree it's so fun revisiting these old favorites. Thanks for sharing.
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Prelude 5 Section A
after discovering this piece for the first time couple of days back I had to get it out of my system. I don't think i can get it done by end of the challenge but I should get at least get section A done.
It really reminds me of those classic movies, the transition between black and white and color. Super nostalgic and very romantic. Super unlike what I'm currently playing
I made some changes to the fingerings and probably will stick to this for section A. Will start work on B while I slow practice this. -
don Good work, Don! I love that you are already getting creative in your thinking and playing of it.
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don Nice start Don! I can see why you like it so much. It's really beautiful!
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don This is such a lovely piece. Nice start. Have you watched Julien Bream’s Villa Lobos masterclass on his estate in England? I think you’d enjoy it.
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don very good start Don. Such a beautiful piece. Would be so nice to hear you play the whole prelude some time (when you’re ready)- don’t let go of it….
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Eric Phillips thanks Eric
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Steve Pederson thanks!
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Marilyn Blodget Thanks for the recommendation! I just found it on youtube, the amount of musicality he can muster just from the few seconds in the beginning is incredible. There are certainly ideas I can learn from. Thank you.
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joosje Thanks! I'll definitely work to finish this piece and will share it when ready.
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