To celebrate the March 8, 2004 release of LOW END, we made a special promotional offer. If you had purchased an autographed copy of LOW END through this website you would have received a free copy of Harry's 1988 album. Originally released as 'The Concert Guitar' and now remastered in digital audio. This offer was made up until March 8, 2005.

Well, it would seem that free stuff is still popular -- when we dropped the free CD, the book orders dried right up. So, we are making the following deal: Go to www.pellegrinlowend.com/reflectingpools and listen to a few cuts from the new album. Buy LOW END through amazon.com's authorized vendor PAB Entertainment Group (the folks who distribute my book and my CD's) and they'll include a copy of Reflecting Pools. (The guitar CD is out of stock.)

FREE CD OFFER!!!

And Check out the OTHER Release

at the bottom of the page!

Why Free?

We're still going to have 'A Guitar Recital' for sale here (Although the name always looks like 'A Guitar Rectal' to me -- and that would certainly hurt!) But as I said elsewhere, folks didn't want a book without getting something fo' nuttin'.

Buy a copy of LOW END through this website and we'll include a copy of 'Reflecting Pools' CD absolutely free. Just write go to Amazon.com and follow the LOW END trail to the PAB Entertainment blurb on the Used and Collectible copies available link. You'll get a copy of the book signed by moi and a copy of the CD.

If you wish to purchase the CD separately, please go to www.bathtubmusic.com and search the 'New Age' genre. Reflecting Pools is there. Okey Dokey?

The Story of the Recording of A Guitar Rectal, er, I mean Recital

There's a whole story that goes with that recital.  To get out of Mannes, you had to go through two ordeals.  Each year, every student was required to perform before a jury of faculty members on his or her major instrument.  Regardless of what your major teacher gave you got a grade during the two preceding semesters, the grade you got at this jury would be your final grade, no averaging, no plea bargaining.  To sweeten the deal, my teacher was a sworn adversary of one of the other guitar teachers--the head honcho of the guitar department.  This other guy, not my teacher, was a Russian violinist (who also was a fine guitar teacher) by the name of Leonid Bolotine.  Not a bad guy, but he felt that guitar was not as serious an instrument as the violin and was probably best suited to lite fare such as Albéniz (!) Tárrega and Villa-Lobos.  To play Bach on the guitar, well, that was pushing the bounds of good taste.  To perform any of Bach's violin suites or partitas, Lord, that was blasphemy!  For senior year, as a requirement for graduation, one had to go through the usual year-end jury.  The there was a graduation jury at which you would be required to play excerpts from your proposed recital program. Not fully comprehending the depth of the feud between my teacher and Bolotine nor realizing the fiddle prejudice or the Bach attitude, I picked the Chaconne from Bach's second violin partita (BWV 1004).  This is considered the holy grail of Bach's stuff for the fiddle and even violinists cringe when faced with performing this one for a discerning audience.  "Dude, you do know Bolotine automatically fails anyone who plays the Chaconne on the guitar, don't you?!?!"   These words, freshly uttered, rang in my ears as I walked into the Jury room, guitar in hand, my program sheet already gone on ahead. I sat down and immediately got that cold feeling in my knuckles-- the one that usually accompanies total disaster. Just as Bluto had said in Animal House 'Oh well, six years of college down the toilet!' I looked at Bolotine, because I knew that was from whence my doom would spring.  With glasses pushed down his nose, he glanced at my sheet then looked up at me. "Pleez for to let me hear your rendition of the d minor Chaconne."  Was that a trace of disdain in the tone of voice?  Now the way I figured it, this guy had me in his sight and I was toast.  What to do????  You know how Russian literature and music is full of drama and pathos?  I decided to scrap my clinical Teutonic reading of the piece and go for a very emotional and romantic flourish.  I got about half way through when he told me to stop, thanked me, dismissed me. Grades would be posted in two weeks.    Bolotine sat still and immovable--inscrutable. One week later was my scheduled graduation recital.  A failing grade would be indicated by a cancellation of the performance.  Each day was an agony as I had heard that the axe could fall right up to the afternoon of the day itself. I arrived at the recital hall at six thirty that afternoon.   "Harry, could I see you in my office?" A faculty member pulled me into a small room.  Oh well, I thought, I've been cancelled. "We are recording your recital tonight for broadcast on WNYC radio.  We'll shut the air-conditioning off just before you play.  Keep your eyes on the engineer in the wing.  He'll let you know when to begin each piece." Realize that it was over ninety degrees and I was wearing a three piece wool suit (my only suit.)  The hall would be sealed up, no street-noise through any open windows.  Great.  The resulting CD that you have displays a very nervous, dehydrating and uncomfortable 23 year old kid trying to make art. There are one or two hiccups, but the performance is pure youthful bravado coupled with a fairly decent technique. I'd play those pieces differently today, but I'm not that same young lion any more! Maybe a tad more sensitivity...

On July 18th 2007 I received the following email. 

I replied as follows:

Now Available!

The album for all you

AIR RAID fans!

LOW END  By Harry George Pellegrin.  The first in the Gary Morrissey series of mysteries.  Dealing with modern subject matter in the classic style of the 1940's Mystery Noire masters--think Raymond Chandler in New York in the 1980's...  LOW END is the story of a drug addict who is murdered after he believes he has found evidence of a major government conspiracy.  Is it only drug-induced paranoia?  Might be, except his paranoia could be considered justified: he was murdered, after all.  Friend Gary Morrissey takes it upon himself to find out just what happened and lands himself in the crosshairs. See more info...

Classic Guitar Method  Composed, written, transcribed, edited and arranged by Harry G. Pellegrin: Now in one volume, much of what the novice classical guitarist will need to know to lead him or her to the recital stage. From proper instrument care and maintenance to the necessary technical skills, musical mind-set, and the standard repertoire—all exposed and explored with enough detail and insight that the student will wish to keep this book handy years to come as a ready reference source. See more info...

DEEP END: The Wreck of the Eddie Fitz  By Harry George Pellegrin. A mystery novel. Involving a semi-professional musician and a Kreyol death cult, DEEP END takes the reader from the bottom of Long Island Sound to the steamy streets and Blues clubs of New Orleans. Alternative spirituality does battle with the common working man.  Published by PAB Entertainment Group in association with LULU.com. See more info...

This new collection includes three AIR RAID originals as mentioned in the novel LOW END, three perennial favorites from 'A Guitar Recital', two rare recordings of Gary Richard songs, the power-pop You Got No Heart and Sexy Little Dresses, with Harry on bass, and two never-before-released demos Harry recorded in 1975 and 1986 fill out the play list.

Email information@pellegrinlowend.com for ordering information

Enjoy and thanks!

Harry G. Pellegrin