Guitar pieces of beauty, serenity, and tranquility.
I have always loved the sound of the acoustic and classical guitar. It is an instrument that can be played by children, and yet one that in certain hands can command the classical stage. Much like the piano, it is also an instrument that carries its own when played solo, providing melody, harmony, and the underlying bass.
Recently I came across several pieces of acoustic guitar music that helped me slow down and focus on the moment. I thought I would share them with you as an antidote in hurried or troubled times.
Guitarist Beatrix Kovács begins with the lovely Cada Mañana by Eduardo Díaz, which means “Every Morning.”
Vin Downes plays “music that will put you in a good place.” Like many acoustic guitarists today, he was influenced by the music of artists on Windham Hill Records in the late 1980’s, musicians like the fingerstyle masters Will Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Alex deGrassi, and David Cullen.
Many classical pieces have been transposed for guitar, creating new textures and sounds from familiar pieces. Some of those melodies are quite familiar, as when Sedona guitarist Michael Lucarelli plays Schubert’s Ave Maria.
The music of J.S. Bach is a favorite for guitarists. Here are two examples, the first being the sumptuous Cello Suite No. 1 performed by the young German crossover guitarist Julia Lange, and the second, for those who want to go down the rabbit hole, the challenging Goldberg Variations, originally written for harpsichord and performed here from an album released on October 31st by guitarists Thibaut Garcia and Antoine Morinière. Their “masterful arrangement highlights the intricate counterpoint and rich harmonies of Bach’s genius, transforming the familiar into something new and captivating.”
And finally, as night nears we can all use a peaceful nocturne. Ilona Skowrońska describes herself as a passionate guitarist with a Master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the Academy of Music in Kraków. Here she plays Chopin’s beautiful Nocturne op. 9 no. 2.
Have a peaceful and lovely day.
More to come . . .
DJB
Image of guitar by Yucel Moran on Unsplash
MORE TO COME... 