Contemporary Guitar Composers of the Americas is a unique collection of 51 solo works representing 17 composers from the American continents. This anthology addresses continental guitar music; music from North, Central and South America. It features many composers who have helped to enrich its repertoire, giving rise to a diverse palette of styles, textures, rhythms, moods and melodies. A worthwhile addition to the library of any classical guitarist.
This book presents a collection of contemporary, tonal classical guitar works from Ireland's most prolific guitar composer; Dave Flynn has melded Celtic, minimalist and neo-baroque influences in this ground-breaking addition to the modern concert repertoire. Fans of the minimalism of Steve Reich, John Adams and Philip Glass will enjoy “Three Minimalist Pieces” and the “Six Etudes for Five Fingers”. The influence of Flynn's native Ireland can be heard in some of these etudes, as well as in the Satie-esque “Three Gymn O'Paddies” and “The Mahatma of the Glen” which utilizes an alternate tuning with roots in Celtic fiddling. The imposing “Passacaglia” is a challenging concert work suitable for competitions and recitals, while the “Homage Sonatina” pays tribute to three iconic guitarists: Heitor Villa-Lobos, Andy Summers and Leo Brouwer. With an insightful foreword from the late Charles Postlewate, Flynn's illuminating practice tips and program notes guide the reader through these atmospheric, accessible works. Flynn's own interpretations can be found on his albums 5to9 - Music for Solo Guitar (2020) and Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar (2009), available online to stream or download. Recommended for intermediate to advanced classical guitarists, these pieces are written in standard notation only.
This collection of Latin-influenced pieces is ideal for the classical or fingerstyle guitarist seeking challenging new material that spans a number of genres and is melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically engaging. For the classical guitarist, the collection offers an excellent source of solos inspired by traditional forms and styles while providing new works that will readily compliment the traditional classical guitar repertoire. Fingerstyle players will discover attractive pieces, appreciating the many syncopated rhythms. The composer himself, with a degree in classical guitar, performs on a modified steel-string instrument. Written in standard notation only, the author's detailed fingerings and online audio recordings will facilitate learning these delightful pieces ranging from intermediate to advanced levels. Includes access to online audio. At Mel Bay Publications, we are privileged to hear a lot of new, original music. With Michael Bellmont's guitar compositions, we guarantee that once you hear them, you'll want to play them yourself!
The guitar's entrance into American culture began in the early 1800s, introduced primarily by visiting and immigrant Spanish guitarists. Many of these newly arrived Spaniards exerted great influence on the guitar's development in 19th century America. the works in this book contain the compositions and arrangements of eight noted 19th century Hispanic American guitarist/composers with an emphasis on their works that reflect Latin themes or rhythms. Rounding out this anthology are dance forms such as the Habanera, Jota, Cachucha, Sevillaño, Spanish Mazurka, and other Spanish dance related works along with extended concert pieces such as Theme and Variations, Serenades, Polonaises and a delightful arrangement of the Celebrated Spanish Retreat, a programmatic work with an unusual "C" tuning and novel harmonic effects crafted to imitate the bugles, horns and drums as heard on the battlefield. the book features twenty-one solos and two duets which range in difficulty from easy to advanced. an extensive and well researched text along with photos and a companion recording by acclaimed guitarist/scholar Douglas Back help to make this a landmark book.
Classically trained jazz guitarist Diego Barber presents five well-developed themes and a 3-movement solo sonata transcribed from his outstanding commercial CD recordings: Calima, One Minute Later, Tales, and The Choice. Two of the tracks, “Elvira Maria” and the 3-movement Sonata “Banc d’Arguin” are strictly guitar solos, while “Richi” is a solo accompanied by light percussion. “Kilian’s Mountain” is a reduced score of an extended duet with a pianist, and “Desierto” and “Virgianna” include expert sidemen on saxophone, bass and drums. The music ventures from complex melody-chord textures to hard-swinging grooves, all played with spontaneity and a heightened awareness of time, dynamics, color, technique and tone. Even seasoned guitarists will find these pieces rhythmically and technically challenging, but they provide a roadmap to the recordings, and rare insight to the workings of a unique musical mind. Diego Barber’s Compositions for Classical Guitar are written in standard notation only, with online access to stellar solo and ensemble recordings. About Sonata “Banc d’Arguin” … Diego Barber is a native of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, just off the northeast coast of Africa; in writing Sonata “Banc d’Arguin,” the main solo piece in this collection, he was inspired by the major cities, Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, the Banc d’Arguin National Park, and the desert of the West African country of Mauritania.
