Week 1: Setting Sails! ⛵
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the "Music YOU Love" practice challenge!
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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La Maja de Goya was a learning adventure for me during our Covid lockdown. Martin reminded me this morning that I don't want to lose it. Because strings 5 & 6 are tuned to G and D, I have not kept it in my practice rotation. I've spent the rest of today bringing it back. I'm making progress, but this video is from 2020. I am pleased that my fingers and ears seem to remember somewhat what to do.
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There's not much classical history in my current hometown of Dayton, Ohio, US. Musically, it's actually mostly known as being a key center of the funk movement in the 70's with The Ohio Players, Zapp, and Heatwave among others coming out of here. It's also the birthplace of jazz guitarist John Scofield who arranged a chorus of "Georgia on My Mind" in a very loose, rubato style for classical guitar. It's a famous ballad in the US written by Hoagy Carmichael. but mainly associated with the performer Ray Charles. I've always wanted to learn it so here's the first a section.
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Down by the Salley Gardens
Hello fellow music-of-the-world lovers! I reached out to my college professor from over 30 years ago for some music, as I know he has written several arrangements as well as several original pieces. I thought it would be interesting to introduce you to some of his work. His name is James (Jim) McGuire, and he taught and the University of Minnesota where I went to college.
Yesterday he sent me an arrangement that he made for a classic Irish song called Down by the Salley Gardens, which is based off of this poem by William Butler Yeats of the same title. I thought that was appropriate, as it fits both the "world music" challenge in addition to the time of year.
Jim is a jazz guitarist as well as a classical one. It shows in this arrangement. The song has an AABA form, which I describe - amongst other details - in this video. This is sort of an introduction video of the song, which I explain as I am familiarizing myself with it. Enjoy!
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Here's the initial take on my first piece. I've just acquired a matched pair of Rode M5 microphones and a Volt 2 audio interface so it's my first try of those. It's audio only so you don't have the dubious pleasure of seeing me in action. Cavatina by Stanley Myers. I relearnt this the other week to perform at my local guitar club. I'll try to work on it as the challenge progresses.