Okay, so
after last week's exercise, I got bitten by the
bug to look through the standard repertoire for
goodies. And you knew I'd find one!
One of my
all-time favorite pieces is the d
minor Chaconne by Johann Sebastian
Bach. Albert Valdes-Blain told me that no
guitarist should play this piece in a recital
until they'd reached their fortieth birthday. He
felt a younger man couldn't possibly have built
up the emotional 'bank account' to successfully
impart anything to the music. My personal
opinion? I don't believe any player will
successfully find, interpret and deliver the full
range of emotional content Bach wrote into this
piece. It is a masterwork, some argue the one of
the brightest lights of Western culture.
The
Chaconne is a set of variations stemming from a
brooding, dark theme crafted from a series of
three and four note chords. Originally written
for the violin, the violinist dreads the chordal
variations and runs through the scale stuff. The
guitarist breaths a sigh of relief on the chordal
stuff and sweats the scales! One man's poison...
Well, about two pages into the Segovia edition we
find the first brutally quick scale passages. Due
to the complexity of the implied harmonies in
these melodic runs, the guitarist must articulate
every note. Each note is a gem set by a master.
This is not a chance to show off chops, it is an
opportunity to touch souls!
Please
note the drop D tuning. Practice this passage
slowly and with an open ear. The harmonies are
simply spectacular. As with all exercises I've
given you, practice slowly and cleanly with high
articulation. Feel free to play with different
fingerings and string voicings. A metronome will
come in very handy!
You can see plainly that
I've messed with Segovia's work. This is what works for me; it
doesn't mean that's the way you have to perform the passage.
Find a copy of the violin score and note the legato markings.
You know, whenever you learn a piece transcribed from another
instrument's repertoire, go back tot he original score and check
it out. You may see something that the transcriber missed.
Once
again, you can find a rendition edited by Eythor
Thorlaksson of the
Icelandic Guitar School on that website. [As I've
written before, this is a great site for free
sheet music downloads and other information of
merit. Visit it!] Harry Pellegrin performs weddings and gallery openings in the Capital Area!
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Reflecting Pools
Original Music by Harry G. Pellegrin:
Reflecting Pools is a departure for me
as it is totally keyboard. Well, the guitar did show up on one
track...
"...Reflecting Pools is a notable first album [for
Mr. Pellegrin]. A dramatic sense of tonality and mood are
propelled by exemplary musicianship and exciting compositional
exploits."
...And containing nine tracks that are relaxing, inspirational
-- sounds like a snooze. Not really, this is great stuff to
listen to on a rainy afternoon, while with your significant
other (nudge, nudge, know what I mean?)
Please visit the Reflecting Pools
page on this site or
www.bathtubmusic.com.
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Enjoy these exercises and come back next week for
more!.
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