- This topic has 31 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 9 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Ok, I have been going through a ‘down’ phase on my electric guitar lately. Anybody who has been playing for long enough understands this – we just feel pooped out and uninspired and a general lack of desire to play. Of course it doesn’t help that I have been watching all the seasons of ‘Game of Thrones’ – anybody who has watched that show will know that it is just so darned addictive and, instead of playing, I have been completely hooked wanting to see the next episode after the last cliff hanger. If you want to keep playing guitar, DO NOT watch that show 🙂
Fortunately for me, I still have my favorite style to fall back on and I absolutely love playing this Pavana by Luis Milan. I think Renaissance era Lute players were absolute masters of their craft and, this music, is really hard to express well. Hopefully, you will enjoy my poor imitation.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like this one. One of the things important for classical guitar players is to build up a repertoire of pieces and, right now, I think I can manage about 40 minutes of continuous playing at least of easier pieces.
-
I like both Geoff. The second one seemed happier. Classical guitar is your calling and that is where your heart is. On this site, it’s great we can enjoy such a wide variety or guitar music.
Ken F
-
-
-
-
-
-
Wow Geoff, both pieces perfectly performed in spirit, playing technique and rhythm. You can clearly hear the different nuances of this great Renaissance music. Milan is a master of the spirited Spanish line and the more straightforward German influence. Incidentally, “Nachtanz” is also often amusingly referred to as “Hupfauf” (Jump up). The playful Italian influence, the great english songs and the French elegance are still missing. Do you perhaps have something else in your program?
Dieter
-
Hi Dieter. I maintain a bunch of styles in my repertoire and it is not easy to practice them all on a regular basis.
I find this style of music very technically challenging and the pieces require a lot of regular practice if I am not to go rusty on them very quickly.
What I am getting around to is, no, I don’t have many other pieces from this period at this level of difficulty. There is, of course, Robinson’s may and Packingtons Pound.
-
-
Amazing work Geoff. That looks very very technically difficult and I can definitely appreciate the work that went into getting it to sound as good as you played it. The quick chord shape changes and hitting the right strings with the right hand while letting it all sustain where you need it to. You did it with lightning speed and finesse. Thanks for the variety as well, I get bored of the blues so this is a refreshing listen.
Nick
-
That’s great to hear Nick because I know this style is not everybody’s taste.
I would say Renaissance and Baroque era Lute music makes use of a ‘carry over’ notes a lot. There is quite a bit of holding down the bass strings while playing the melody underneath – it can also go the other way round too. Thats part of what makes this music tricky to play – timing is pretty complex too.
PS: I appreciate your ‘George Benson’ style – I know that is not quite accurate but that lends something different on this forum too and I enjoy it.n You really do play very well.
-
-
Another wonderful display of classical Geoff. Both pieces looked extremely difficult but sounded really good. Had some quick 16th notes in there switching to chords. Very well done.
Joe
The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge -
-
-
So glad you enjoyed these David. I think playing the lute, like the guitar, was a lifetime learning thing that musicians cultivated like a craft – constantly honing their skills and moving from place to place to perform. Hence the term – wandering minstrel. It might have been the one profession that allowed someone to ‘see the world’ and move from place to place back in the ‘Middle Ages / Renaissance’ period. Most other things, you were probably land bound close to where you were born your whole life.
As it happens, Packington’s Pound is part of my repertoire so I will record it. One of the few ‘easier’ pieces from that era.
-
So well played on both Geoff, my preference would be the more light- hearted second on. They would certainly be a challenge to learn.
On another note, don’t watch Succession or The Walking Dead, you never play guitar again. Ha haRichard
-
-
Great to wake up and hear you play some Milan Geoff. Beautifully played, I love that melancholy regal feel of lute music from that period. This one sounded familiar and I know I have played a Pavana or two in the past. Your second video also very enjoyable. I’ve said this before but I’m always amazed at your output of music. You’re a fast learner and top sight reader for sure. All the best! 😎🎸😎
-
Thanks Garry, when I listen to the Pavanna, it’s like standing proud and I just can’t get over the somber seriousness of that piece.
As I am sure you know, the nice thing about the sight reading is I only have to remember a piece partially to play it. I can do it with the easier pieced but not with the more advanced stuff. I played pieces like ‘Song of the Treadspinner’, ‘Recuerdos d la Alhambra’ quite recently but I cannot play them now – it is simply too hard to keep those in memory without practicing them continuously. Sight reading does not help me with those.
-
-
Congratulations my dearest friend!!!I managed to listen to Pavana again now that I’m on the beach and the reception is good💓💞I also enjoyed the second one,the more joyful one that you hadn’t sent me!!!Your playing is becoming more and more masterful and definitely more emotional at the same time Geoff!!!!If you ask me to choose of course I would say the first one❣️💓💞💗💖
-
-
Both sound beautiful to me. Your technique and ability have amazed me. I’ve watched your other posts and found them fascinating. Classical music is an inspiration for me. I love the fact that there is something more to it than what our modern ears process and are typically drawn to. Well done!
Too old for rock and roll but too young to die
-
-
-
-
Don’t push yourself so hard Geoff, your music is unique here and I enjoyed both👍
P.S. You can skip the last season of GOT, not so much enjoying…😂
Friend of Ray (The Corgi)
Vive la music!
--- Tao -
-
Another great slice of classical magic from you Geoff.
I liked the first one better.
The second one was still excellent and sounded very medieval to me.
It’s amazing that music from that long ago is still being played today and all from sheet reading only.
Keep up the great work sir.
Liam.
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. “
-
Thanks much Liam, I wasn’t actually putting the two up for people to compare but that’s what they did anyway 🙂
You are unusual preferring the first because most seemed to prefer the second. I love all music from this period but the Pavanna is probably my favorite too – it has that kind of Sombre dignified gravitas that we don’t hear as much in modern music.
-
-
Both beautiful and brilliantly played, Geoff!
For sure you’re building a vast repertoire of classical guitar music, and when you run out of pieces you can always pull out your electric and play a sweet blues 😅 (I’m sure your ‘down’ phase with the electric will end soon).As I said I loved both, but I tent anyway to prefer the first one, the Pavana (may be because they say it’s very probably an Italian dance, born in Padova, a city very near to the city where I live? Who knows, may be 😅)!
Guido
-
Hey thanks for listening Guido 😁.
The annoying thing is my memory is poor so , unless i am constantly working through my repertoire, I forget stuff. That is one of the challenges with classical guitar perhaps less of an issue with other styles. The thing that really gets me is I cannot retain the really hard stuff like “Recuerdos de la Alhambra ” or Asturias by Albeniz . Generally I get around it by maintaining easier pieces that I think are beautiful in their own right.
I suspect you know more about the history of this music than I do. For me, I just like to play them. I do know that pieces from this era were named after Dances very commonly. I guess mist music from that time was for social gatherings so it makes sense.
I absolutely LOVE that Pavanna. 😊
-
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
