Concierto de Aranjuez: Second Movement - Adagio (NEW DATE: June 3rd) Questions / Suggestions
Alright everyone, here we go! Let's do this 
In my first Aranjuez livestream, I gave a general overview of Rodrigo's concerto. I asked you whether you'd prefer if I did three livestreams: one for each movement.
Since there was overwhelming interest in this idea, we're doing it! Second movement coming up next. Click here to watch the previous livestream on the first movement!
Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:
https://app.tonebase.co/guitar/live/player/concierto-de-aranjuez-2
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have about this movement?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
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Hello my friends! As those of you watching in real time would have noticed, today's livestream was interrupted due to a connection outage that affected parts of Los Angeles this afternoon.
As a result, I ended up recording a 40-minute chunk of the livestream (covering pages 9-13 of the Adagio) offline, before jumping back online for the last hour or so of the show.
I've now gone ahead and "re-stitched" the video back together, so that you can now watch the entire livestream the way it was intended.
The full video is now available under the same link as before.
Feel free to click the picture in the opening post or simply click this blue text to access it.
If you have any questions about the section that was recorded offline (anywhere between pages 9-13 of the movement), please post them in this thread.
I will answer them by Tuesday next week, either via text (if appropriate) or by making a dedicated video answering them, if they are more complex and require such attention.
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Here are my questions on this wonderful movement (the page and line references are to Angel Romero's version):
1. Pg. 15 Lines 2 to 4 Rasgueados difficult for me to sound good at XI Fret (but sound the best by those, such as you, who can execute it well). See attached video of John Williams playing it at the IV Fret. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekznnxaGzNU. time is at 9:09.
What do you think?
2. Pg. 8 Line 3 of the Adagio. Chord at V with Slur on e string ( c to a). In many videos I don't see the 2-string (e and b string)bar being played.
3..Pg. 8 Line 4 - measure 1 - block G bar chord at III Fret. How are you fingering it for easy change to next Gmaj7 chord?
4. pg. 8 Line 5 , measure 2 - Slur of c# to A. what fingering for this passage?
5. Pg. 9 Line 2, measure 1 - Scale fingering?
6. Pg. 9, line 4, measure 1. If using slurs on 32nd notes, how are you doing it? if using 1st and 2nd strings, how to avoid noise of hitting fret board?
7. Pg. 10, line 2 , measure 2 - Chord difficult stretch.
8. Pg.11 Line 1, measure 3
Line2, measure 2 For both these trills, how to count in start of the trill, and duration of the trill. (any cues?
9. Pg.11 , line 3 and 5 - 32nd note 4 beat pattern . Slurs or picking the notes?
10. Pg.12 On Cadenza, are you using only i -m, or sometimes using "a" as Angel indicates?
11. Pg.14 Arpeggios sequences with "A" finger down and P-i-m up. How to make smooth transitions of chords.
12. Pg. 14 - Ist 2 lines. Angel and Williams both play this in their video in 1st position (not IV). Seems easier without barring. Your thoughts?
General: Please indicate where "preparation" (LH and RH fingering) is particularly important in certain passages.
Sorry for the amount of questions, but this is a long piece with a lot to talk about. thanks!!!
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It's still offline. what is status at this point?
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Barney Back online now, I've recorded part of it offline and will stitch it back together. We're in the cadenza now.
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My dear friends, I apologize for the interruption - thank you SO MUCH to everyone that stuck around. I am currently stitching the two livestreams back together. They will be posted here in a couple of hours at most. I will announce when everything is in place!
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I heard Ana Vidovic play Aranjuez several years ago. It was broadcast on the radio. The entire broadcast is uploaded to SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/don_burden/evansville-philharmonic-sept-29-2012
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Thanks again Mircea for today's lesson!! It was excellent!
On the Rasqueados at XI Fret, it looks like you are hitting only the top 3 strings ( g-b-e strings) and using the"i" finger. It sounds good when you do it! But not as full --is that okay, because of what the orchestra may be doing?
Please take a look at my first question re: John Williams playing the full chords an octave lower at the IV Fret ( I think it's at about 9:09), and tell me what you think as a possible option. I don't think it sounds as good like the octave higher version, but may be easier for my small hands.
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Barney hi Barney! It was not my intention to only hit the top 3 strings for the rasgueados on the XI fret when using the i finger up and down, but that could certainly happen as a result of not having been practicing the piece enough on the days leading up to the live stream. The orchestra isn't doing anything there, you are on your own. They have one hit at the beginning of every measure, and it occurs during your rest.
I've just watched the John Williams video you linked to - that seems like a valid solution to me! As I was saying on stream, the Aranjuez is a concerto where a lot of things can be altered to make it flow better musically. If this is something that enables you to communicate the spirit of the music more freely, then I would certainly use this solution.
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Thanks Mircea! I appreciate your terrific guidance on this great piece. Lots for me to practice.
I look forward to the 3rd movement later on. I found the Orchestral score on Scribd. Once I can play this reasonably with some confidence, I will attempt to coordinate with an orchestral recording. That should be fun, and hopefully not too discouraging. HaHa.
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Barney wonderful! When you start out practicing together with an orchestra recording, make sure you start out quite slowly - don't be embarrassed to even go to 50% of the speed on the first couple of days. I know you already know this, but it's exceptionally important in order to avoid getting discouraged, just like you were saying.
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