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Wai Great job with Microestudios #7 & #8. Your second takes were much improved. I really like using these Microestudios as part of my warmup routine. Additionally, it is fun to put a few together as a mini suite. For example, I think from the first book, Microestudios #1, 3 & 5 work well and from the second book, I like #6, 8, & 9. Of course, playing them as a group of 5 or 10 also works as a great performance set. In any case, keep up the good work and I am looking forward to #9 which is one of my favorites and can work as a stand-alone piece. Also, have you received his School of Guitar book?
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Wai I think Microestudios 1, 3, & 6 do make a nice set to perform. Also, don't give up on #9. It will grow on you. Listen to Carlevaro playing it and try to pick out the melody line. It is quite nice. Also. William Kanengiser has a nice performance of it on YT. Glad you got Carlevaro's book. It is true Carlevaro has a unique approach to playing pizzicato which I try to adhere to. Watch Carlevaro performing Tamboriles (His Preludio #5) to get a better sense of how he plays pizzicato. However, there is nothing wrong with playing pizzicato the traditional way. Also, my suggestion when studying his book, is to focus first on left hand technique. Carlevaro has an innovative approach to the left hand/arm which can greatly help with left hand string noise. I hope this helps.
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Dale Needles Hi Dale, Listening to Carlevaro's recording of 9, it seems like he's playing it fairly loose when it comes to time. I know this piece is marked poco libero, but was he pretty open to rubato interpretations or is 9 more the exception than the rule?
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Steve Price Hi Steve, I was not fortunate to study these Microestudios with Carlevaro since they came out in the 90s, and I was studying with him throughout the 80s. Nevertheless, from my experience with him, I found that he generally adhered to the rythm and timing as indicated but with that said, he would interject rubato quite often both in selected phrases or even for entire pieces. For example in 20 Microestudios, there is one microestudio in each volume that he indicates should be played poco rubato. As with most things, it is finding that right balance betwen what is written and one's own musical expression. Also, I have read several of your posts in Wai's practice diary and am so glad you are admirer of Carlevaro. He is truly a great composer. I am currently working on his Introduccion y Capricho, a wonderful piece.
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Dale Needles Hi Dale, I have watched the video of Tamboriles, that was not pizzicato, that was magic!
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Wai He really is so clean. Really impressive.
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Dale Needles He really is one of my favorites. A nice mix of challenging and accessible. A lot of his music is out of my reach but I'm slowly chipping away at Evocacion. Thankfully he has some nice lower grade pieces like the Milonga for Ling, Tango, and Song for an Indian Boy as well as his studies (micro study 2, strictly adhering to his penciled in dynamic markings, is usually my warm up). Introduccion and Capricho is really nice so enjoy that.
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Microestudios 09 (Take 2)
The more I practice the more I like it, so I tried to record it again today. The last time was a little bit loose, but this was more steady, not much different though.
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Wai I love it, Wai! Rich, beautiful harmonies and your playing is very smooth and legato. Listening to it is like meditating.
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Eric Phillips Thanks, Eric! Yes, The harmonies are beautiful, I really like how notes evolve and clash with each other to create a beautiful soundscape.
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Microestudios 10
I think this is my least favorite one among the first 10 Microestudios. Changing speed suddenly from slow pizzicato to fast passages was far more difficult than I anticipated! When I played the slow pizz. passage, my mind would keep telling me the fast one was coming, and 9 out of 10, I would fail miserably on the first few notes of the fast passage.
After these 10 Microestudios, I have to practice some Bach to balance my music nutrition.
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Wai Congrats! You made it through the first ten Microestudios. Very impressive. I really liked your second recording of #9. You also did well with #10 and i agree that it is a bit challenging to transition from pizzicato to the the faster phrases. This one also needs some time to grow on you and a good study for improving your pizzicato. So now enjoy some Bach. BTW, Carlevaro has great edition of Bach's Prelude, Fugue & Allegro.
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Dale Needles Thank you, Dale! I really enjoyed the first 10 Microestuios, and I am planning to record one more take for No.6 before diving into No.11-20.
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Microestudios 06 (take 2)
After listening to Carlevaro's recording, I found that I was too rushed on my first take, and I also found that he liked adding a little bit retard here and there, so I decided to make one more recording and tried to mimic his phrasing on this one.
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Wai Very nice! This feels more musical and expressive than the previous version. This is also a study that will continue to develop the longer you play it. Also, don't hesitate to experiment a little with more tone color variety. In any case, you play this microestudio beautifully and with feeling. So happy to see you enjoying these wonderful studies. Looking forward to hearing you play Microestudios 11 - 20. My suggestion is to take your time with these later studies since they tend to be more challenging.
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Dale Needles Thanks, Dale. I've already started to learn No.11 and hope that I can share it with you all soon. Just as you said, the studies are getting harder after No.11, I need to spend more time with each one. Luckily, I am in no rush and I quite enjoy the journey.
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Hi, I'm currently learning Microstudio No.1 with my teacher, I didn't do the Ejercicios previous. Do you think they are worth reviewing?
Cheers,
Jaime.
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Jaime Hi, Jaime, thank you for listening. The Ejercicios previous was worth every minute of my practice time. They teach us the basic hand movements which will be kept using in the Microestudios, besides, they are short and not that difficult, definitely worth checking out.
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Thanks Wai, it took me great time and effort to get the LH independence required to play the Microestudio 1 correctly, it sounds it would had been worth to practice the preliminary ones.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Jaime.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
