Week 3: Rhythm Everywhere! 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the third week of the "Music from Latin America" challenge!
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Do you struggle with complicated rhythms?
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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I am preparing a second take of Sojo’s Cantico together with Galeron, the last of his ‘five pieces from Venezuela’. But today I share the first rough take of another piece, the Preludio Criollo by Rodrigo Riera:
I played it a very long time ago, and I remember now why I thought it was so hard. If you are looking for a barre piece with lots of awkward shifts and stretches: try this one. But, I think it fits this week’s motto, with its 6/8 vs 3/4 rhythm
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joosje This is very nice, Joosje. You play this with great command and confidence. This is a new one for me. Thanks.
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Dale Needles thank you Dale. I’ll get back to you.
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Wai Stefanie Mosburger-Dalz thank you for your kind comments and for listening.
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Jack Stewart thanks Jack
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Moyses Lopes thanks. This comment I like a lot!
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joosje thank you Joosje for your beautiful playing of this piece new to me, it flows so naturally in your hands.
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joosje Wow Joosje - that looks/sounds hard. Well played. I don't know much about Riera but I remember seeing an article about him while sorting through some old Classical Guitar magazines. I think I'll dig the article out to have a look.
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Barrios - País de Abanico measures 33-48 (April 20)
This is what I am calling the B section of this piece. I've been practicing it for a while now, but I'm really struggling. In the video, I am walking through this section to show what the obstacles are.
I have include a picture of the score for this section.
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Eric Phillips a beautiful piece, but this B part seems really difficult. I’ll have a look at the score (thank you for sharing). Btw El Abanico is also a natural region in Chile, in the Andes. (Never been there, quite remote, maybe Barrios visited?)
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joosje Thanks, Joosje! That would seem to make more sense than Japan.
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Eric Phillips Hi Eric, your playing already sounded smooth to me, I could hear 3 voices clearly. At first, I was shocked to see a stretch between Bb and F and you did it like a walk in the park
. I thought you must have some kind of supernatural power, then I found it's a drop D tuning...whew~ -
Wai Thanks, Wai. No supernatural powers here, but if you have any, I'll take them. Martin once put a spell on me to make me play like John Williams, but since it didn't work, I'll take any supernatural powers you'd like to share!
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Barrios – País de Abanico (Apr 21 update)
This is a really rough recording, but I got through the entire piece.
- I see some progress in the B section (1:00-2:10), which I focused on a lot yesterday. Still much work is needed there, but there is some definite improvement.
- The C section (2:10-2:47) was a train wreck and needs a lot of work, especially in measures 50-57.
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Eric Phillips Great job Eric. Even though the C section was rough, it looks to be not much more difficult than what you are already doing in A and B. Your going too get this soon.
Your perseverance is an inspiration. I am trying to work on Piazzolla's Otono Porteno and making little to no progress. After seeing your perseverance I am continuing on.
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Jack Stewart I'm glad to hear that. I bet you're making more progress than you think. I'm finding myself often hitting a brick wall while practicing a passage over and over again, feeling like I will never get it. Then I come back hours or a day later, and there is a breakthrough. I think that the time spent grinding away feeling like there is no progress is actually more beneficial than we think. So ... keep grinding away. I look forward to hearing your Piazzolla!
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Eric Phillips Careful what you choose to bet on!
This piece, so far, has really thrown me for a loop. After spending several hours on it, I come back the next day and think - 'maybe I was working on a different piece because I don't see any evidence that I was working on this one.'
And I am talking about a 2 measure phrase! I am still hoping for a break through. -
Jack Stewart It will come, I know it.
I only bet on sure things, and this one is in the bag. 
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Eric Phillips good work Eric, you've not selected the easiest one but your WIP is already sounding great!
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Jack Stewart Ja, die Gitarre schenkt dir nix
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Stefanie Mosburger-Dalz 'Yeah, the guitar gives you nothing.'? Is that how that is translated ? (Google's translation)
I'm not sure I know what you mean, though I could understand it as the guitar doesn't make it easy - which is certainly true in my case.
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Jack Stewart me too
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Here goes Carlevaro's Preludio Americano #3, better known as "Campo". It is undoubtedly Carlevaro's most known composition. In keeping with this week's theme of Rhythm Everywhere, this piece has a great rhythm along with a beautiful melody and some interesting harmonies. The middle section is the most challenging with the inversion of the melody and the introduction of the Uruguayan samba rhythm.
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Dale Needles bravo Dale, another awesome interpretation of Carlevaro's music! I also think it's indeed his most known work and a beautiful moment of music.
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks. Definitely Carlevaro's signature piece. Even though I have played Campo on and off for years, I still find the B section a bit challenging. But well worth the effort.
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Dale Needles you're right, the B section is more challenging but has a lot to offer IMHO.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
