February 2023 Challenge – Richard G

[Richard G]

To play a piece that ‘represents my home country’ gave me the incentive to finally learn and play that iconic canticle, ‘Scarborough Fair’
This traditional English ballad has been sung and performed by bards and poets over many hundreds of years and as such has been adapted and modified many times over. The ballad was officially published in 1891 and throughout recent years many artists have recorded it, including Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel.

For those who perhaps are not so familiar, Scarborough Fair originated in the 13th century based at the seaside town of Scarborough, in Yorkshire England. The Fair was regularly held in the Autumn of each year where large crowds of tradesmen and visitors from throughout Europe attended this 45 day event for business, pleasure and celebration.
The Fair was granted a royal charter by King Henry III of England in 1253 which awarded Scarborough prestige status and with it, came many privileges.

This was a great idea for a challenge and I’m really looking forward to everyone’s traditional postings this weekend.

Richard

[Don Patton jr]

An Excellent submission Richard!
I really liked the history surrounding Scarborough fair, in Yorkshire! Great video with pics of the event throughout!
You played it perfectly in a great fingerstyle fashion… enjoyed it 👍🎶🎵

Don P

[MrO]

Beautiful in all respects! Thank you.

[Bill]

That is some really sweet fingerpicking Richard. And thanks for the history too!

[Andy Wright]

Really beautiful Richard, great choice. You played really well. Probably one of the most beautiful tunes ever. You make me want to go and learn it.

[John H]

Richard-Thank you much… could not have been played more beautifully. What a wonderful arrangement. You never disappoint.

JH

[Guido]

Wonderful arrangement, beautifully played, Richard! It’s an evergreen brilliant and moving tune and I never get tired to listen to it! Loved the background photos too.

Guido

[James B]

What a treat, Richard. I knew this was going to be special. The Martin’s clear ringing tones never sounded better. Great finger style technique. It’s amazing that this lovely melody has been played and enjoyed for hundreds of years.

James

[Sumanto Banerjee]

Wowww… what rendition. Loved everything about it. 🙏🙏

Storming Heaven's Gate

[Phil B]

Richard, not only are you a mine of information but you can play with such a great feel. You’ve posted a lot great submissions since I have been doing the challenges but this one just took my breath away – absolutely beautiful!

[Andre H]

Simply beautiful and so elegant. A Joy to listen to

[AndréM]

Awesome performance Richard.
Excellent finger picking.
Best version I heard of this song.
Were you playing in DADGAD tuning, sounds whimsical.
Great work.

AndréM

AndréM

[Richard G]

Many thanks for your kind comments Andre, however just standard tuning.

Richard

[Lights]

Oh, man How beautiful it is! Extremely professional performance, Rich!
Lights.

[cloughie]

Beautifully done. Some of my ancestors come from around there. A 45 day festival of business and community fun – those 13th century people had it right!

Be kind to yourself (especially when you're trying to play this instrument!)
Brian Clough

“Got a lotta sinful ideas but they seem kinda sensible” Jim Casy the ex-preacher in The Grapes Of Wrath

[Garry]

Exceptional guitar playing and performance of an iconic melody and song Richard. And your sound quality is crystal clear. Thanks for adding the pics, overall a stellar submission. Standing ovation! 👏👏👏🌟👏👏👏 Keep on pickin’ and all the best! 🥸🎸🥸

[Scott M]

Beautifully played and delivered with the deft and delicate touch that the song requires, I also enjoyed the alternating period images as part of the performance. Well done Richard 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Scott

[Alan K]

Another throw back in history song. Played smooth as silk with such crystal clarity. Always a pleasure to hear you play Richard.

[Pat]

Ur guitar sounds soo good. Nice picking of a classic piece.

[Helen Lazaridou]

Noone ever gets tired of listening to this sublime music but your playing was simply mesmerizing 💞💗💞Every single note you played thrilled me💗Thank you so much for the historical background as well as the images !😍❣️💓

[Martyn in France]

As usual Richard, your playing is outstanding. You are a very accomplished guitarist indeed. And thanks for the history of the song and festival. A thoroughly excellent listen.
Martyn

[Martin W]

Hi Richard, such a nice arrangement you capture every essence from this classic ,the tone is just perfect almost mesmerising, interesting to read the history of the song and the visuals added to the very English flavour.
Really enjoyed it .

Martin

[Bob Utberg]

Such a beautiful song Richard! The haunting tone and style is perfect – you nailed it! I did not know the story behind this great tune. Thank you for sharing. Bob

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Andy N]

I’ve realised now I used 3 times as many
Guitars as was necessary in my submission !😛. But seriously that was a beautiful piece of music. Such clarity in your fingerpicking. I liked how you wove Paul Simon’s refrain in around the melody. That must have been a bit tricky at the points where the melody comes back on the trailing beats of the bar but it sounded wonderful.

[Serena C]

Very nice and dreamy arrangement Richard, congrats!

If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't be the kind of player I want to be. Perfection is dangerous.
It's all about taking risks, sometimes you get to some place, sometimes you get to a different place. (Brian May)

[Catherine Arsenault]

Beautiful Richard wow🇨🇦🥰

[snakechisler]

That was a truly beautiful rendition of a really iconic tune

Been to Scarborough loads especially during my Youth my parents used to take me on day trips in the summer I was fascinated by the model boat display it was a full model naval battle on Peasholm Park

[David B]

Hola Richard.

Fantastic piece, I think I know a version by Simon&Gartfunkel or at least it reminds me a lot.
Your play here is perfect clean, Is really a pro like.

congratulations for this fantastic play.
by the way.. if you have the tab/score I would like to play it too.

hasta pronto
David B

[Richard G]

Private mail me David…….Richard

[Eric C]

One of my favourite tunes ever and you played it so well, Richard! Beautifully done!

Eric

[Pap]

Richard, that was simply beautiful playing. I think Simon and Garfunkel would have sounded even better with this accompanyment. Cheers and well done. Pap

[Tom D]

You’re in my very favorite tier of fingerstyle players Richard. And it’s so interesting to hear SF in light of the history behind the song. Your rendition is both beautiful and celebratory. Very enjoyable.

Cheers, Tom

[JoLa]

Good Lord! This is the most beautiful version of that classic English song I have ever heard, Richard!
You say this is standard tuning but I also thought it was an open tuning or something because the open strings’ sound is just so clear, like bells throughout. It sounded enchanting to me, you weaved in the Scarborough Fair melody so beautifully, there are no words no describe this gorgeous sound! And then the visual presentation added to the wholesome experience, I absolutely LOVED it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

🎸JoLa

[sunjamr]

I have loved that song ever since I first heard it when I was a kid. Even so, I have never learned to play it. Your version is super cool, and really well played, from your free-form intro right to very end. I loved it! Maybe I’ll learn to play it next Christmas, since it has a kind of Holidays vibe to my ears. And thanks for the history lesson – I had no idea the song dated back to the 1200s.

Sunjamr Steve

[Manfred M]

Thanks, Richard, for the background information to this great song. Very interesting! But when listening to your playing, i got lost in it. Purely beautiful and outstanding. Richard, you are a wonderful guitarist!

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
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I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Michael L]

Wow, Richard! Such a classic tune and you played it amazingly well! The harmonies are beautiful and haunting, lots of feeling in there. You brought out the feel of this one perfectly. I really enjoyed listening!

[Mike W]

That was a stellar performance Richard. Everything about the music was perfect – the arrangement, the playing and the tone. The pictures that were placed in the video took it to another level – so evocative. These days we tend to forget what important events these fairs were. I didn’t realise that Scarborough lasted for over 6 weeks. Thanks for sharing.

[Tim Read]

wow you captured everything perfectly Richard, really atmospheric tone and beautifully played

TimR

[Richard W]

Richard, what a beautiful performance. Just blown away by your skill and musicality here. Beautifully recorded and great video editing on top of that. That’s a high bar!

[Laurel C]

Elegantly beautiful. Transported me back to another time. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme has always intrigued, their combination must have a synergy of some sort. Your arrangement was top notch playing.

[David H]

Richard – I always look forward to your postings. As usual this was wonderful. It made my day. Can’t thank you enough for your contributions here.

[Paddyboy]

Enjoyed your beautiful performance Richard
Paddyboy

ALL IT TAKES TO WRITE A SONG IS........3 CHORDS AND THE TRUTH!

[WBlues]

Well, Richard, that was the top shelf; I didn’t expect anything else from you. A wonderful sound was allowed to accompany your great technique on the guitar. Perfect! CHAPEAU… more is not possible.

Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.

Wilfried

[FergalT]

As usual Richard, your submission is top class. Expertly played with interesting harmonies. Inspiring.

[David G]

Richard this is hauntingly beautiful. Beautifully played and such a wonderful sound that you’ve produced.

[Marie Jarreau]

Oh Richard,
This also is exactly what I’d invisioned in this month’s challenge! Thank you so much for transporting us to that exciting time thru the historic information and your mesmerizing performance!!!

Three Cheers and more!
Marie

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“
Marie Jarreau

[Author]

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