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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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.
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Derek Nice job Derek, can't tell you how many times I learned, forgot and relearned this piece. Can still see Di Niro (The Deer Hunter) sitting in his hotel room after returning from home from the war while this piece was playing in background.
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Derek Nice job, Derek, great start! Looking forward to other pieces, with video and this wonderful Rode M5 pair. Thanks!
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Bogdanovic Monk-a-Ning rough draft
This is from Bogdanovic's collection Unknown Standards v. 1 I. which he composes pieces in the style of different jazz composers. This is loosely based on Thelonious Monk's Rhythm a Ning.
This is the first chorus and about half of the bridge. I have lots of mistakes but it is coming along, sort of.
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Jack Stewart Great choice, Jack! It has there quirky, odd-balance feel of Monk’s music. You’re playing sounds good already.
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Jack Stewart That's awesome Jack. I love Dusan and Monk and didn't know about this one. I'm actually working on the first two of Dusan's "Baltic Miniatures" for this challenge. Just need to get more comfortable playing in 11/16 first, lol.
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Steve Price That's interesting, Steve. I also considered working on the first 2 of the Balkan Miniatures for this challenge. However, I decided on 2 other pieces, this Monk(ish) piece and another piece first. I am pretty sure I won't get beyond those 2 pieces. I am excited to hear that you will be working on those miniatures.
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric. Its quirkiness is its charm but it is also really tricky to keep up with. I find its relentless chromatic nature challenging to remember. But, slowly, it is coming together. Very slowly!
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Jack Stewart Great start Jack! This sounds like it's going to be a really fun piece!
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Jack Stewart It sounds like it's starting to come together Jack. I don't listen to much jazz but I'm looking forward to hearing your progress.
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Jack Stewart Cool Jack, this sounds already good to me! I like Bogdanovic's music but I didn't know about this one and the collection of Unknown Standards, in fact the only work I've ever play was the Sonata Fantasia for guitar duo. Looking forward to hear the whole thing!
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Steve Pederson Thanks Steve.
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Derek Thanks Derek.
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise. Bogdanovic's range of compositions is mind boggling! he has 2 volumes of Unknown Standards - tributes to various jazz composers.
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Jack Stewart yeah I know he's more than prolific, he has nearly 200 publications only at Oz publishing! I definitely want to play some of his music, and for sure revive the Sonata Fantasia.
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Jack Stewart Great, Jack, and you played by memory! Like many other 'compadres' here in Tonebase I didn't know this Bogdanovic's piece, you did a great choice. Thanks for sharing!
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Moyses Lopes Thanks, Moyses. This has been on my list for a while now, so I felt this was a challenge to get to it. I was going to do several folk songs arranged by composers but this took precedence in the end.
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Here is the first movement from the Out of Africa Suite, Call at Sunrise. It's a suite I fell in love with after hearing Denis Azabegic play it live 10 years ago. Now seems like a great time to work on a few movements from this Suite.
Alan Thomas uses popular African rhythms and melodies as an attempt to illustrate the different times of the day in Africa. Movements include Call at Sunrise, Morning Dance, Zenith, Evening Dance and Cradle Song. I find myself really struggling with the rhythm and phrasing of this movement so any advice would be much appreciated.
Everyone that I listened to on this challenge has been sounding amazing! Definitely encourages me to practice more, keep up the great work everyone! :)
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Eddie Carcamo That is wonderful, Eddie .I like what you've played and you're playing is very good. I am excited to hear the rest of the movement what other movements you can get to, I don't know this suite but I will check it out. Thanks for sharing this.
Bogdanovic has a set of 3 African Sketches that is also very nice. He uses prepared guitar technique that is effective in creating sort of a thumb piano effect. Gary Ryan has a piece called Benga Beat that is also wonderful. It requires vocalizing a melody and percussive technique. Both are worth listening to.
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Eddie Carcamo Great job Eddie! Wow, this piece is really cool. Never heard of it. I love the way it builds and builds. Way to go!
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Eddie Carcamo Wow, that was incredible. I have never heard this before, but it is exactly the kind of thing I first thought of when I heard the topic of the challenge. Your playing of it is incredible and I really look forward to hearing more.
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Eddie Carcamo That's a lovely piece Eddie and you play it very well. I've never heard this before either but I need to hear the rest of it. Please keep posting your videos of the other movements!
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Eddie Carcamo wow, just wow! I have never heard of this piece, but you played it very well, can't wait to listen to the whole piece.
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Eddie Carcamo beautiful music and playing Eric, thank you for sharing this with us. I hope to hear more of this suite over the challenge.
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Eddie Carcamo Lovely piece, Eddie! For sure you got it, it sounds outstanding in your hands! I don't know why you aren't comfortable with your rhythm and phrasing, it sounds very good. For me, a piece with a complex rhythm like this needs time to maturate, but for sure you're on the path. Bravo!
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Eddie Carcamo I really enjoyed your performance Eddie! You play very well. Thanks for sharing this with us. This is the first time I've heard it, and I look forward to more from the Out of Africa Suite.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
