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 guitar track, so I’ve learned and adapted it by ear.  Metheny performs this on a small scale steel string that is tuned a fifth higher than normal pitch on the guitar.  I think it works well for the classical guitar as well.  I spent the day working it up and recording it on my Logic setup.  Hope you enjoy it.

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 a Café Concert, offering a program that was in some ways a treatise on the guitar’s usefulness, both as solo instrument with an original repertoire, and as a close cousin of rock music and jazz.

Of the former category, Vieaux performed two works by the usual suspects: Sevilla, a tasteful arrangement Isaac Albeniz, and Joropo, an evocative Latin dance piece by the Argentine composer José Merlin (both will be heard in a recital at the Caramoor Festival on July 21). He also switched gears to perform an arrangement of a song by the jazz-guitar legend Pat Metheny, who was the subject of Vieaux’s 2005 album “Images of Metheny.”

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 I decided to arrange it by ear for a midi string ensemble in Logic Studio.  You will also note in the video my first attempt at splicing several clips showing a close up of my right hand (guitarists will appreciate this). On the menu bar, choose 720p for HD video/audio.

The process of recording is a helpful way of practicing for live performance.  It improves concentration and offers a way of identifying sections that need further development.  Sabbatical time and practicing guitar go well together!

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 entire piece, but don’t miss Ricardo’s warm and unhurried intepretation of Prelude BWV 998 which starts at “10:08″ into the Video. Be sure to select the “HD on” button on the bottom right corner. Headphones recommended!

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 unique contrast to Walker’s hymn tune, especially using a “drop D” tuning on the guitar.

I spent this afternoon (Easter Tuesday) playing this arrangement on my Breedlove Passport c25, which is a short-scale guitar voiced a fourth up from standard tuning; like playing a standard guitar capoed at the 5th fret. It’s an evolving piece I hope to keep working on in the future.

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 had to play it.

I could not find the music for the arrangement anywhere, so I’ve adapted it by ear and have enjoyed playing it over the last several weeks.  Using my Logic Pro set-up, I created a midi string arrangement and mixed it with the guitar and video tracks using iMovie. Amazing what you can do with digital media applications these days!

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 of those who have gone before us in the faith.  Their stories continue to inspire us and remind us that we are not alone in our struggle to live faithful, loving, and truthful lives.  My father was born on November 14, 1926, and with his birth came the possibility and reality of my own unique human life.  He lives on in my heart.  November is also the month that Debbie and I gave our lives to each other in the covenant of marriage – November 26, 1977.  That was a great day indeed!

I’ve been working on a piece by the great Cuban composer, conductor, and guitarist, Leo Brouwer entitled, Un Dia De Noviembre, written for a 1972 Cuban film of the same name directed by Humberto Solás. The original instrumentation was for guitar accompanied by flute, bass, and percussion. He later transcribed the piece for solo guitar.  I love the pensive and wistful mood of this piece — perfect for a rain soaked November afternoon.

I’m playing my Alhambra 5PCWE2 using both a condenser mic and a direct box into to my Logic set-up.  I still have some work to do on this piece but the background of rain and falling leaves far outweigh the imperfections that still remain.  Hope you enjoy it as much I did playing it today.

Jason Schneider

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 hirsute singer-pianist Leon Russell. Fans think music should be free for the taking.

From Michael Jackson’s bank account to robust ticket sales for Roger Waters’s “Wall” tour, pop has witnessed its share of unlikely comebacks this year. Perhaps the least expected, though, is that of the year 1970, just in time for its 40th anniversary. (Pop-culture nostalgia tends to run in 20-year cycles, making this revival even more surprising.)

Mr. Taylor and Ms. King’ s  “Troubadour Reunion” shows — the second-highest-grossing tour of the year after Bon Jovi’s, according to Pollstar, which tracks tour grosses and ticket sales — recreate the period four decades ago when Mr. Taylor’s career was kicking in (with his “Sweet Baby James” album) and Ms. King, a veteran Brill Building songwriter not yet known for her own records, was simply the pianist in his band. On Oct. 19 Mr. Russell and Mr. John will release their first-ever collaboration, “The Union,” which recalls the months in 1970 when Mr. John opened for Mr. Russell at halls like the legendary Fillmore East. “Valleys of Neptune,” an album of exhumed recordings by Hendrix, entered the charts earlier this year at No. 4, just like his “Band of Gypsys” did, at No. 5, in 1970.

Even a relatively youngish act is paying homage. Marc Cohn, the piano-playing balladeer best known for the adult-contemporary standard “Walking in Memphis,” has just released “Listening Booth: 1970.” On it this gravel-road-voiced singer remakes and rearranges songs familiar to anyone who was glued to AM or FM radio that year: “Wild World,” “The Tears of a Clown,” “New Speedway Boogie,” “Into the Mystic,” “The Letter” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” among them.

Read the full article here.

Photo by Chris Nelson

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 monastery in the Austrian Alps.   I immediately set down to learn one of the tunes, Always by Your Side, which is is a gem to play.  Leanne Hansen, of NPR’s Weekend Edition, interviewed Towner in May of 2006.  He discusses the lyrical nature of the piece as well as other aspects of his musical journey.  Definitely worth a listen here.

Earlier this week, I recorded my progress with the song.  I find both listening and seeing my performance a great help in identifying where improvement is needed. Wish I could have an hour session with Ralph to soak up his technique and knowledge about the guitar.  I understand he lives in Rome.  What a gift that would be!

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, John Williams.

I was intrigued by the dropped G & C tuning as well as the Spanish flavor of the transcription and thought I’d give it a try on my new Alhambra 5c cw directly into Logic with the Fishman Prefix pickup system onboard.  If I were to record it again, I would probably add a condenser mic near the sound hole to provide it a bit more “live” touch to the the overall sound.

The Alhambra, which is handmade in Spain,  features a solid cedar top, laminated rosewood back & sides, ebony fingerboard, mahogany neck, wood inlay rosette, wood bindings, gold tuners, lacquer finish.  The icon on my oratory table is a replica of Christ the Pantocrator from the School of Moscow, 16th century.  I’m sure St. Augustine would not mind if I adapted his famous quote to read, “He who plays a stringed instrument prays twice.”