classical guitar

The Artistry of Guitarist Roland Dyens

June 10, 2012

Very few classical guitarists can walk on a stage and improvise something to start a performance. But that is precisely what acclaimed French classical guitarist Roland Dyens did the couple of times I saw him perform. Improvising isn’t common amongst classical guitarists, which is one of Dyen’s unique qualities. Roland Dyens is probably one of [...]

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Could Chicago Guitar Festival in October 2010 Boost Local Scene?

August 1, 2010

The classical guitar scene in Chicago doesn’t feel like much of a guitar scene at times. At least not compared to other major cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Yes, there is a Chicago Classical Guitar Society, but the society part is weak. There is the Segovia Guitar series, but the lineup is [...]

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Album Review – Reinventing Guitar, Performed by Smaro Gregoriadou

March 30, 2010

Thanks to Delos Music for sending this album for me to review. All images included in this post are from the CD booklet and are used with permission. When I first received Reinventing Guitar: New Perspectives In Guitar Sound (2009), I wasn’t sure what to think. I flipped to the back of the CD and [...]

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A Little About Kertsopoulos Æsthetics For Guitar

March 23, 2010

The aural aesthetics of today’s instruments has evolved over time. Pick your favorite instrument and I guarantee that what it sounds like today is different from even 30 years ago. Musicians and instrument makers constantly find new ways to improve upon existing instruments. Whether it is exploring how to improve the construction of an instrument [...]

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Some David Russell (Classical Guitarist) Playing Celtic Music For St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2010

Let me begin by saying flat out, David Russell is a bad ass. If you haven’t heard of David Russell, well you should know about him. David Russell is one the best classical guitarists of today. Period. You can ask any serious classical guitarist, and I am confident that Russell would be included as a [...]

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Figure Skating and the Classical Guitar

February 16, 2010

Nothing has anything to do with the other. However, underneath all my metal loving, this classical guitar junkie has a great appreciation for figure skating. When I was a student in college, I started paying closer attention to figure skating. I don’t remember exactly how it happened. I can’t ice skate at all. In fact, [...]

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The Gift of Music

December 30, 2009

Pluto once said, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” I am convinced there is nothing more precious than giving the gift of music to a loved one …and I don’t mean CD’s or [...]

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My Love Affair With The Tango

October 5, 2009

Do you have an “odd” musical obsession? By odd, I mean something that could be considered out of character for you – even a tad? In case you missed the obvious by this post’s title, let me be more literal. I have had a long time love affair with the tango. No, I don’t mean [...]

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Rebuilding Iraq: Ottmar Liebert and Rahim Alhaj Return to Moorish Traditions

September 17, 2009

The Spanish guitar and the sounds of flamenco have a Middle Eastern connection that dates back to the Moorish conquest of Spain in the eighth century. In fact, as an undergraduate student studying classical guitar, I learned that one of the first treatises of musical instruments was written during this time period. As a result, [...]

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Jason Vieaux: My Former Teacher and His New Bach Album

March 5, 2009

I have to admit that I am surprised at myself. Since I started blog last May, I haven’t really talked much about classical guitar. Probably because I didn’t want this blog to focus on all things guitar. Of course, I recognize that I may have neglected one of the major reasons I started writing about [...]