Reflections from Rick Lord on Leadership, Transformation, and Things That Keep Human Life Distinctively Human
Today was a sabbath day, a day for playing guitar. Several years ago (1999) Pat Metheny contributed to the soundtrack for the film, “A Map of the World,” and the the title track evokes simplicity, depth, and transcendent beauty. It plays like a prayer. I have not been able to find the transcription for the [...]
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From WQXR the Classical Music Station of NYC: Until this year, the Curtis Institute of Music, the famed conservatory in Philadelphia, did not regard the guitar as an instrument worthy of a place in its curriculum. When the school changed its policy, it hired Jason Vieaux to co-run a guitar department. This week, Vieaux gave [...]
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This past week, I worked on a beautiful composition for guitar and orchestra titled “Romance No.1″ by John Brunning. I came across this piece as performed by the brilliant guitarist, Xuefei Yang, on her recent album, “Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez.” The orchestral arrangement on the recording provides an evocative harmonic background to the guitar and [...]
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Wandering Eye Productions has filmed a lovely video of world renown guitarist, Ricardo Gallen, who is recording a new album with interpretations of Bach on a guitar which is a replica of a 19th century instrument. An inspiring performance to watch and listen to. It’s worth taking a 15 minute break to listen to the [...]
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For the Good Friday service of the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week, I worked up an arrangement of the deeply moving hymn tune, “Wondrous Love,” by William Walker, (1825). I’ve also been working on Carlo Domeniconi’s “Variations on an Anatolian Folk Song,” and found that the original tune and first variation add a [...]
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Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack for the 1986 film, “The Mission,” has always been a favorite of mine. The hauntingly beautiful and simple melody of “Gabriel’s Oboe” has been covered on just about every instrument you can imagine. An Italian guitarist, Mauro De Domenico, has recorded a lovely arrangement of the piece for guitar and orchestra. I [...]
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Mid-November is a time in the northern hemisphere when nature begins its annual cycle of decline, death, and ultimate rebirth. It is also a season of days when the creation seems awash in a final burst of glorious color. November, with it’s early feast of All Saints, is a traditional time to cherish the memory [...]
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I enjoyed reading this article from The New York Times: Is this 2010 — or 1970? The answer, strangely enough, is: both. James Taylor wraps up a tour with Carole King. A new Jimi Hendrix album makes its debut in the Top 5. Elton John has joined forces with one of his heroes, the extremely [...]
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I first heard Ralph Towner play guitar in the early 1970s when he played with the Paul Winter Consort. He later became a founding member of the group Oregon. Today he’s a prolific solo artist on the classical and 12 string guitar. Recently, I picked up his album Time Line, which was recorded at a [...]
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Several months ago, I came across an arrangement of the theme from the film Schindler’s List, the 1993 American epic film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. The arrangement is by the renowned Australian guitarist, [...]
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