Fingernail on 27/5/2008 at 15:45
My main performance exam this year is on friday, and I like to record what I'm playing a few times beforehand to see how it's sounding and to give myself a bit of pressure. Anyway, the first takes of a couple of the pieces came out alright so I thought I might as well share them so that whoever may be interested can hear how I'm improving.
The first is two pieces by
John Dowland (English Elizabethan lutenist) - a
Fantasy or Fancy (which is basically a sort of written down improv) and then
Lachrimae Pavan (which was such a hit he turned it into a song called "Flow my teares") - mp3 (
http://www.speaking-guitar.com/dowland.mp3) here. I use a capo at the second fret and tune the third string down to F# to give a better approximation of rennaissance lute tuning and pitch.
The second is a favourite of the Spanish guitar repertoire -
Variations on a Theme of Mozart ("Das klinget so herrlich" from the Magic Flute) Op 9 by Fernando Sor. It includes a dramatic introduction before you hear the theme and then the variations - mp3 (
http://www.speaking-guitar.com/sor.mp3) here
I recorded these in my bedroom, just adding a bit (possibly too much) of digital reverb to stop it being too dead. Enjoy!
37637598 on 27/5/2008 at 16:04
I'm listening to the first piece right now... I am in complete awe. (oOOOoohhh)
You have great technique, very little fret noise, amazing position changes, very flawless. Of course there were very few little mistakes, but nothing to worry about, it sounds great!
Good luck with your final preformance, sounds like you don't need luck though, you've got all the skill!
The second one, very good as well! Becutiful tone. Might I ask what kind of guitar you play? it has a great even tone and nice sustain! i love playing classical guitar, If I had the money for a good one, I would own one in a second!
Overall you have amazing talent, you have nothing to worry about, best I've heard in a while! If you ever write your own song, let me, and all of us know! I'm sure wemwould all be very happy to listen, I love this music! Good job!
Fingernail on 27/5/2008 at 16:35
Thanks a lot! Of course, when you're aiming for perfection nothing is ever quite good enough but that's a personal thing - what really matters in this profession is entertaining people and giving convincing performances.
My guitar is not actually all that wonderful - it's a good student guitar (again, when this becomes your life you find out that there is good and then there is good in terms of instruments) - I'm actually looking for a new guitar. A recording probably gives it advantage - it makes a nice sound, but you pay the money for a guitar that not only makes a great sound, but can also project that sound really well and fill a decent sized concert hall. Mine isn't really a "concert" guitar of a professional quality. You pay around of £5000 - £10,000 for a guitar from a well known maker. And even then, they're well known because their guitars are reasonably consistent, but not everything they make will be really special. There's no real "Steinway" or "Stradivarius" amongst guitars - nothing you can rely upon being great every time - and they don't last as long as violins.
And even then it's still quieter than most other instruments. As a classical instrument it's almost more trouble than it's worth - the complex technique, potentially damaging posture unless you're careful, growing and caring for fingernails, volume, tuning, changing strings... etc.
37637598 on 27/5/2008 at 16:49
Well your recording definetely sounds great! Not too much reverb either, it still sounds natural to the un-trained ear. One thing I was listening to when I assumed it was a quality guitar, is the well rounded frequency range, no notes stand out too much, very clean and nice bass, sweet and great tones on the higher notes, but most of all your playing is just astonishing. Definetely entertaining, I've had both songs looping since my first post! Great to listen to! I used to work in a music shop here, we had some pretty high end classical guitars, but nothing concert worthy. You will do famously on your exam, and people will cheer your playing on for years to come! Thanks for sharing BTW!
Tonamel on 27/5/2008 at 18:12
Excellent as always, sir! :thumb:
Medlar on 27/5/2008 at 18:43
Now that is some class plucking young fella. Great job.
Angel Dust on 28/5/2008 at 00:37
Very nice and the recording quality is good too, just the right amount of reverb :thumb:
PigLick on 28/5/2008 at 05:34
D/l this last night, but only listened to it now. Excellent work, great tone and dynamics, possibly too dynamic, or else you should have cranked the gain on your mic more, cos the quieter passages were hard to hear on my little speakers.
Hell there should be more than 6 replies here, this is some really accomplished playing my fellow forum-goers, give it a listen.
Yell Piranha on 28/5/2008 at 08:48
Gave these a listen whilst revising for my finals and was very impressed, although I am not musical enough to offer any useful advice on their quality. Also decided to go and acquire some Classical guitar pieces as I had forgotten how much I enjoy the sound. So thanks!
doctorfrog on 1/6/2008 at 03:48
Excellent, downloading these now. I still have two of your other mp3's that you posted a few years back, and they pop up here and there on my network of randomized playlists. In other words, your work is in the rotation of at least one listener.
As far as my non-expert, non-audiophile ears can tell, your style's close enough to flawless for me. Thank you for sharing some music I would otherwise have never heard of!
