Thread: What happens in your life - Come in and share!

Originally Posted by Hilltroll72

It is not clear to me why someone would take up classical guitar when he doesn't like the body of music composed for it.

Because when you start to play an instrument maybe you don't know very much about classical music. You may start excited by one particular piece or just because it's the only instrument in the house. It's absolutely possible to notice, once you start to know more about classical music, that the repertoire for your instrument is not your favorite.

Of lesser concern (because I don't know the difficulty of it) is why such unfortunate people don't modify music they do enjoy to a form playable on their chosen instrument.

There are cases in which it's possible, other cases in which not.

Actually the repertoire I was complaining about is the main repertoire only because guitarists play it and it pleases a certain audience. There's largely enough for a life time of truly interesting piece playable on the guitar - from renaissance lute fantaisies to avant-garde stuff, Bach's music included. It's just that if you're a "normal" guitarist, playing safe and well known repertoire, you won't play a lot of great music.
And it's difficult for a conservatory student to escape from this scheme of things - the same way it's difficult for a piano student to never play any Chopin or Rachmaninov, even if he despises this music-, partly because there are actually few well known musicians truly taking risk and an immense majority of students work on usual, well-known repertoire.

About the transcription thing... It can be done for Baroque keyboards work, I think. But even if there are transcriptions of Bach second and sixth partitas, they're extremely hard (I guess it can be compared with piano transcription of organ or even symphony scores), and I'd personally hesitate a lot before beginning to work on a piece which would be extremely hard to just play relatively properly on the guitar, and which happens to be already played a lot by the greatest pianists.
That said, some guitarists seem to play mainly transcription. (:
The guitarist Paul Galbraith made transcription of Haydn, Mozart, Bartok, Brahms... Needless to say, he has a terrific technique and a very special guitar (with one bass string and one treble string added).
I prefer to try to concentrate myself on recent/new repertoire actually written for my instrument.

Originally Posted by Praeludium

Actually the repertoire I was complaining about is the main repertoire only because guitarists play it and it pleases a certain audience. There's largely enough for a life time of truly interesting piece playable on the guitar - from renaissance lute fantaisies to avant-garde stuff, Bach's music included. It's just that if you're a "normal" guitarist, playing safe and well known repertoire, you won't play a lot of great music.
And it's difficult for a conservatory student to escape from this scheme of things - the same way it's difficult for a piano student to never play any Chopin or Rachmaninov, even if he despises this music-, partly because there are actually few well known musicians truly taking risk and an immense majority of students work on usual, well-known repertoire.

About the transcription thing... It can be done for Baroque keyboards work, I think. But even if there are transcriptions of Bach second and sixth partitas, they're extremely hard (I guess it can be compared with piano transcription of organ or even symphony scores), and I'd personally hesitate a lot before beginning to work on a piece which would be extremely hard to just play relatively properly on the guitar, and which happens to be already played a lot by the greatest pianists.
That said, some guitarists seem to play mainly transcription. (:
The guitarist Paul Galbraith made transcription of Haydn, Mozart, Bartok, Brahms... Needless to say, he has a terrific technique and a very special guitar (with one bass string and one treble string added).
I prefer to try to concentrate myself on recent/new repertoire actually written for my instrument.

Thanks for the elucidation. Much of the 'standard' repertoire is Iberian, or at least so influenced. I am fortunate in liking it. To be a classical guitarist and not like it must be a challenging situation.

I've just attended a lecture by Nobel laureate John walker. So inspiring!

Finally a thread that is unashamed about this topic.

I'm off to see Bang On A Can perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I'm off to see Bang On A Can perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday.

Will you be coming back to the forum proper?

I'm pretty bored it's ten past six in the evening and I think I shall be going to bed soon after this post.

I can't believe what happened today! (Sid James is gonna love this) There is a new girl at my school in another class who plays the cello. She came here because she was being bullied at her old school. She was slapped one day by someone I knew quite well from primary school and orchestra rehearsals several years ago. I was surprised at that connection, but wait for this....

The new girl's uncle is Brett Dean.



BRETT DEAN!!!!

BRETT DEAN!!!

BRETT DEAN!!!!!!!



I've already sent her one of my compositions to give to him this weekend hoping he could give me some feedback.

I'm just amazed about the connections there.... I went to the 5 year old birthday party of a girl who slapped one of my favourite composer's niece!

Working on formulating my mid-range goals for my piano studying. I want a practice-quality keyboard or piano in my home by Christmas of 2013 at the latest, and to begin lessons within two months thereafter. (by practice quality I mean something with weighted keys...I know that playing a regular keyboard is not adequate to develop finger strength).

It would be nice to just go straight for the acoustic piano. But with my year benchmark, I'm not sure how much money I'll have saved in terms of the quality of piano that I can get when you factor in tuning costs and the lessons. Plus, the logistics for the house. I'll get an upright piano if I buy one next year. But if I start with a quality keyboard and wait another couple years for the piano, our basement would be finished by then, and we could consider a baby grand. Choices choices.

Read that, because of e-devices, we don't talk anymore while commuting. Well, that's a newsflash, since Sony Walkman was around for decades prior to.

When I take public transit (occasionally), I revel in the silence. More e-devices, please...for everyone! Except me.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11..._we_dont_talk/

For those interested, you can skip over to the non-classical I'm currently listening to. Something a pop singer sang 23 years ago, relating to. Though somewhat more heartfelt. Complete with lyrics! Have a nice day.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

BRETT DEAN!!!!

BRETT DEAN!!!

BRETT DEAN!!!!!!!

Brett Dean!!

OMG!!









Er...who he?



[Dinnae fash yersel COAG - just couldn't resist!]

Just got back from Wales after a very silly halloween, have to collect my brother and some of his drunken scoundrel chums for a metal festival tomorrow. The headliners are Electric Wizard and Pig Destroyer. I'm terrified. Could the metal folks here tell me if it's socially acceptable to wear a gum shield to this kind of event?

Last night I went to an awesome concert at my university. A travelling Trio performed Arensky's 1st Piano Trio, and it was wonderfulllllll! When they started playing the scherzo movement, I started grinning like a crazy person, I just loved it so much, and the audience did too! When the scherzo was over, almost the whole audience couldn't help chuckling! Now THAT'S a scherzo! Hooray for Arensky!!!


Concert tonight, I'll be playing Richard Strauss Serenade Op. 7 with an ensemble, I'll be 1st flute.

Drinking beer and listening to Moby. Which hasn't happened in a while! that is, me listening to Moby. Think I'm going to watch http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217209/

Originally Posted by Mesa

Just got back from Wales after a very silly halloween, have to collect my brother and some of his drunken scoundrel chums for a metal festival tomorrow. The headliners are Electric Wizard and Pig Destroyer. I'm terrified. Could the metal folks here tell me if it's socially acceptable to wear a gum shield to this kind of event?

I believe kevlar is the material of choice, poor piggies... :'(