Well - one of the things about the strummed sections is that it is not clear
in the tablature
whether you should include all the open courses. As notated the whole
passage is in 3 parts with the occasional 4-part chord and not a single
5-part one. If you play it as written it merges into the punteado section
without creating any real contrast.
If you include all the open courses some of the chords will be very
dissonant. I have about six different
recordings of the piece - and some people do include open courses and some
people don't. If you
vary it - and some people do - you can create more contrast.
But as Murcia is concerned I don't think such a "in your face" performance
is what
he had in mind. When commenting on right-hand technique he refers to
playing the instrument with some exquisiteness and specifcally says that
when playing pieces which are delicate and include strummed strokes you
should play in the middle of the instrument - between the rose and the
fingerboard.
The earlier version of the fandango and some other pieces in "Cifras
selectas" don't include the strummed sections at all.
Just because it is a fandango it doesn't have to be played as if it some
sort of wild orgy.
Monica
----- Original Message -----
From: "howard posner" <[email protected]>
To: "lutelist Net" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:37 AM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Baroque Guitar Video
I enjoyed the contrast between the strummed parts and the punteado parts.
As it went on, I found myself wanting more dynamic contrast within the
strummed parts.
Your thoughts are most welcome.
The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3v56-03ajU
Chris
Well I very much enjoyed it (and, of course, I respect your skill and
musicianship).
You asked for some thoughts.. and no one has responded yet. I just
thought
that the strumming (were those the improvised bits?) seemed a notch too
much more intense than the surroundings. E.g.: the opening very staccato
strums seemed more edgy and nervy than the passages that immediately
follow.
But great playing and maybe this music needs to be intensified a
bit....?
Well - my two pennyworth. The piece does start off with three strummed
variations but I thought they sounded horribly abrasive and I would
question
whether that is how Murcia would have played them himself. I couldn't
tell
what method of stringing was being used but if you have a high octave
string
on the 3rd course - well take it off right now. There is no evidence
that the
baroque guitar was ever strung like that in the 17th and 18th centuries.
There were one or two places where (dare I say it) some of the lower
notes
sounded twangy.......
In the introduction to "Cifras selectas" Murcia is scathing about the
"punchers or acorn pickers who try to stimulate the ears by thumping the
guitar" and says "God save us from this summer hail storm". A prayer
that I would echo.
I think the music calls for a more sensitive approach myself. It is not
intended to be proto-type flamenco.
Sorry - but I didn't care for it.
Monica
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