Live Guitar New England

classical

The guitar has an enormous and diverse repertoire that reaches back to the Renaissance. While the term "classical" may conjure images of stuffy, old-world Europeans in wigs, the guitar's repertoire extends far beyond such a sensibility. Latin, Moorish, and contemporary aesthetics abound in guitar music. With contributions from musical giants such as John Dowland, J.S. Bach, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Leo Brouwer, the classical repertoire endures and offers something for everyone. While I have categorized all of these selections under "classical", the single heading truly does not capture the breadth of style contained here. 

Spanish

The Spanish repertoire is at the heart of the guitar. While this category is often considered part of the "classical" repertoire, I thought that it warranted a special distinction. This music has a unique emotion and flavor that is wrapped up in the guitar itself. Spanish music is earthy and soulful with roots in Flamenco, Gypsy music, folk-styles, and even eastern European and Moorish culture. The energy, or "duende", of a Flamenco concert is unrivaled; often guitarists, singers, dancers, and cajon players join together to express life musically with a passion and intensity that is native to Spanish music. Audience members are highly involved and the experience is all encompassing. I had the privilege to see many flamenco players while I was in Madrid and it made a lasting impression that stays with me to this day.  

Popular music

While my formal education and training is in classical music and jazz, I have a positive love for popular music. I often think that certain Beatles albums are as brilliant as Beethoven symphonies! When you listen to music on its own terms such comparison become irrelevant and the love of the music speaks for itself.

Arrangements for popular songs are very common requests. My list is continually growing and I am constantly receiving suggestions for great new songs. Most popular music translates very well onto the solo guitar in a way that faithfully pays homage to the original while also putting a new spin on a familiar piece of music. Melodic music such as The Beatles or Beach Boys works particularly well but I have even managed to transcribe more dance oriented music like Prince or Michael Jackson with success. Let me know if you had any ideas!

Music from the movies

Though a smaller category, I have received a number or requests for music from various movies and thought that this music warranted a section of its own. Some of these pieces have been among the most challenging to arrange but have also been among the most gratifying. Perhaps one of the most-requested songs, "Thousand Years" by Christina Peri, falls into this category, along with a few of the quirkiest requests I have received,  "Concerning Hobbits" from Lord of the Rings and "Cantina Theme" from Star Wars - used as processional and recessional, respectively (they worked great!).

Wedding Classics

These pieces have become virtually synonymous with weddings. If most people were to spontaneously hear Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin or Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, they would not think of Romantic fairy-tale opera or incidental music for Shakespeare. They would likely think of weddings and getting married! 

While much of the classic wedding repertoire has such an iconic and inseparable feeling, many others are simply traditional pieces that are commonly played at weddings. In my experience, many people really gravitate toward a handful of these as "must play" for the set-list, while at the same time rejecting others as "must not play!" I guess that music that is so familiar and with such powerful connotations tend to elicit strong opinions!

more coming soon!!!