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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Lars Owe Walter – Int å begripe
Here is a piece of music from Sweden that I found in one of my books. The composer (b. 1946) teaches guitar at Musikhögskolan Ingesund in Sweden. The title means, ‘not to understand’ and is inspired by a Swedish poem of the same name. I guess the idea is that you don’t have to understand, just feel.
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Eric Phillips Well, that certainly explains why it sounds like an odd folk song. I kept trying to imagine sitting around a campfire (ice fishing hole?) and singing this - it never seemed to work. Of course, imagining me trying to sing anything doesn't work.
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Eric Phillips Magical - and I'm feelin' it! What a great and interesting piece. You know, the ironic thing is that I just took my daughter to a flamenco guitar performance tonight, and before the concert I told her that you have to listen with your heart and feel it, don't listen with your mind. I think this appeals to the mind and heart.
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Steve Pederson Thanks. This piece is a far cry from flamenco, that's for sure!
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Jack Stewart I can only sing 4'33" well.
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I've been resurrecting La Maja de Goya by Granados from the tar pits of my mind. This is today's 2023 version. I have managed to almost memorize it, although I'd forgotten how difficult it is--so many shifts and different techniques. I'm grateful that Martin referred to this piece in introducing this challenge. I'm enjoying the process of revival, and I've learned more about Majas and Mojos.
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Marilyn Blodget That is coming along well, and such a difficult piece! Your hands and fingers seem to have the movements down, so now it’s just a matter of making it more fluid. There were some lovely trills in there, and your vibrato is really beautiful.
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Marilyn Blodget You are 'resurrecting' this quite well Marilyn. It looks very challenging but your initial command of it is impressive.
I always find reclaiming a piece from my past very difficult and frustrating. ('I'm enjoying the process of revival' - I have no idea what you are talking about.
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Marilyn Blodget There are so many great pieces from our past, and this is one of the best.
I'm glad you are bringing it back for us. The first time I heard the piece was on an old recording by Rey de la Torre. Thanks for sharing it!!
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Barney Rey de la Torre was good friends with my teacher, Guy Horn, who gave me the Llobet sheet music I’m using. My biggest challenge is to not totally forget my oldies but goodies while still learning new repertoire.
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Marilyn Blodget I admire what you're doing here Marilyn. It sounds beautiful - and some of those hand stretches and positions - my goodness. Your performance here makes me think of a video I saw of Segovia describing how the guitar is like an orchestra with so many different timbres. You cover a nice range of timbres and dynamics. Wonderful!
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Steve Pederson Thank you so much for your encouragement! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! We do have so many colors to paint with.
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Marilyn Blodget Very nice, this is such a great piece, extremely challenging. Especially keeping the rhythm flowing through the choreography of challenging finger movements. Always wanted to learn it, but felt I would get tired of it by the time I mastered it. Well done.
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Marilyn Blodget My first serious guitar teacher was a student of Rey de la Torre. He told me Rey was a wonderful teacher and he shared the technique and fingerings he learned during my lessons. My teacher ( I was his only guitar student) was actually a college professor of history. He married a violinist, and unfortunately, they both decided to stop playing their instruments. Very strange...
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Barney Interesting! I’m always sorry when people give up their instruments. I understand frustration with difficult pieces , but there are so many beautiful but approachable alternatives. Your teacher would be very appreciative of your progress and continued joy in making music.
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Michael Shirk Thanks Michael. I understand. It sat unattended in my music pile for about 35 years. I was put off by the tuning, but I found that was not a problem for me. But you’re right—it’s hard.
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Marilyn Blodget Thanks Marilyn!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
