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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Here is VL Prelude No.5. I enjoy the lyrical works (like this one) of Villa -Lobos the most. No.5 also has an interesting mix of different feelings --first section very light and lyrical, next more energetic, last a bit more virtuostic. Such a great composer!!
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don Thanks Don! I have not seen Taso's video, but have seen other artists play it at quite different tempos. I'm performing it based on how the music sounds and feels to me.
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Barney Excellent, Barney. As always your beautiful tone shines throughout along with your musicality. And while I am not a huge fan of the glissandos in the B section, you play them very well. Bravo.
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Dale Needles Thanks Dale!! I know that Carlevaro and others use different strings in the B section (which also avoids squeaks, which is great) but I intentionally choose the glissandos here for the musical effect.
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Barney Great phrasing. All melodies are very clear and singing with a nice legato arch.
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Barney beautiful phrasing , and you create an amazing sound , feels like you are in a concert hall. I need to learn your secret...
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Ernesto Thanks Ernesto!
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Calin Lupa Thanks Calin!
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Barney Lovely Barney! This one is my favorite too! I really enjoyed your interpretation!
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Marilyn Blodget Thanks Marilyn!
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Barney Beautiful, Barney. Your performances are always of such excellent quality in tone and phrasing.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack!
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Here is my interpretation of HVL Prelude 3. It was fun to re-learn this beautiful Prelude after being away from it for several years.
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Dale Needles very nice and clean sounding if it makes sense. I really like the color that you chose for the beginning.
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Dale Needles Nice! Pleasure to listen to it!
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Dale Needles I enjoyed your interpretation of this iconic prelude. Especially in the adagio section it might be fun to vary the colors of successive modulations. It’s so fun to revisit old friends!
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Marilyn Blodget Ernesto don Thanks everyone. I appreciate the likes and, Marilyn, I like your suggestion and will play around with the timbre in the B Section.
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Dale Needles As usual Dale, you play these pieces masterfully. Bravo! I saw the masterclass publication by Carlevaro on the Etudes. Is there one for the Preludes?
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Barney Thanks, Barney. Yes, there is a Carlevaro Guitar Masterclass on the Preludes. Carlevaro published three of these Maserclass editions, one on 10 Sor Estudios with score provided, one on the HVL Preludes (no score) and one on the 12 Etudes (no score). Chanterelle initially published these, although I did see online that Melbay may have republished them. Additionally, if you want to see Carlevaro's fingering for any of the Preludes or Etudes, you can download them from the Carlevaro Online Library. Abel Carlevaro Library: Abel Carlevaro Library (bibliotecaabelcarlevaro.blogspot.com)
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Dale Needles Masterful performance, Dale. You give this prelude a very improvisational feel which I believe really suits it well. Beautiful!
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. I did try to give this Prelude a little of my own interpretation ala Carlevaro's influence.
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Dale Needles Got it. Thanks Dale!!
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HVL Prelude 2 (Aug 21)
Not sure if there is any improvement. Feeling a bit like I’m stuck in a rut.
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Eric Phillips Nicely done! Not stuck at all!
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Eric Phillips This is coming along very well. Still feel there is a little tension in your left hand particularly in the B section. However, when you repeat the A section the tension disappears and you play that last section masterfully. You are so close.
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Dale Needles Thanks, Dale! I appreciate the encouragement.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
