Classical guitar

HusseinSarhan

Hi,

Anyone want to give getting a classical guitar quartet or trio together a go? I'm not fussed about what we play necessarily but it would be nice if people would be interested in putting together some original work. Playing ability is not that big a concern, reading would be an advantage but not essential by any means. I'd just like to get something together and see where it goes. I can meet up for practise in the City Centre during the week or in Rathfarnham. I don't really mind what age people are, I'm 19 by the way.

Cheers.

Mod - I know this should probably go in Musicians and Bands but it's not like this forum is swamped by threads already. I reckon it wouldsink way too fast in Musicians and Bands bt would probably get more responses here. Thanks.

thehomeofDob

Hey,

Just posting to show interest, doing grade 5 this year, though not advanced in any sense of the word. It would be fun to have some people to play with I think.

TempestSabre

Never occured to me that you do grades in guitar. But of course obviously you must. Where are you doing that, what sort of material do you work through?

thehomeofDob

Not to get off topic but material wise, what you'd normally do in any graded exam.
Grades 3 and 4 were done with Trinity London - 3 Pieces, a number of scales, general technique (legado etc.) a few chords, ear tests and sight reading.
This year my teacher has switched to a Leinster music college (I think that's it), so no more chords, or general technique, but still good stuff.

HusseinSarhan

thehomeofDob wrote:

Hey,

Just posting to show interest, doing grade 5 this year, though not advanced in any sense of the word. It would be fun to have some people to play with I think.

Thanks, that's really the idea; playing in a group for enjoyment and maybe taking it further if it makes sense too. Could even be a source of income too.

In a couple of weeks time I reckon we could get something going. There must be more guitarists interested in classical on here...

stevejazzx

what piecies you have in mind?
leo browuer and modern stuff or sor type stuff or a big mix
I'd love to do some of my own piecies but their not written down...

thehomeofDob

I must mention I'm 17, living in D15 and my only transport into town is by bus.
I'll play just about anything, but I haven't done a whole lot, mainly stuck to my exam pieces over the 2 1/2 years I'm playing - just haven't felt comfortable with anything else.

HusseinSarhan

A mix of stuff would be great. Baroque, Romantic, Modern, all good. I'm open to all suggestions. I'd like to do originals too.

I've got a few exams coming up but I think I should still be able to get some free time to meet or whatever before then... probably town.

Anyway, if you both (or anyone) would like to try something just suggest a piece, a trio say. And when we've all gotten used to it, we can meet up and give it a try. Maybe meet up every week or so with a new piece? Could be very good.

thehomeofDob

I dunno about meet up every week with a new piece, it often takes me awhile to get the hang of one. I'd be interested in looking over a piece though and take it from there.

HusseinSarhan

Absolutely, some things can take a while. You'd be surprised how quick you learn things when playing with others thouygh, learn pieces I mean.

Good to see that there's interest though.

There is some really good music for guitar trio out there. I heard a pretty good version of "Joy of Man's Desire" by Bach. That'd be a good starting point maybe. There is a good bit of interaction between the parts, and rythmically it's not too difficult.

cabla

would you be looking for a violin by any chance?

HusseinSarhan

Personally, I'd really like to do some violin/guitar duets if you are interested. I'm free from the 11th of June but could meet up before then if needed. It would be great if we could earn a few bucks by doing it too.

Would that interest you?

There are plenty of guitar/violin duets written, as well as guitar/flute ones that could easily be adapted.

Let me know

cabla

Ye id be interested im on grade 8 violin well 7 but im doing the exam on monday. ye i would love to try it out, you in dublin? i may have a good gig comming up for the summer in a resteraunt if we are lucky. i play in a quartet kinda aswell but we only had one gig. Got money for it. I also have a fair idea of the rates of pay. what kinda guitar violin duets? example? gypsy is good.:P

HusseinSarhan

You are probably a lot better than I am by the sounds of things. Gypsy music is really good, but it's one of those styles for guitar that to sound convincing you need to be pretty used to paying it. I don't play that type of muci. I'd give it a try though. I was thinking Baroque/Renaissance stuff but I'm open to other things, maybe Irish folk music/trad. Will I pick a duet and send you the notation?

cabla

ye pic a duet. im open to. i dont play gypsy but it sounds good like violin and guitar. what standard you at? ye ill play anything.

HusseinSarhan

I haven't set any exams so grade wise I wouldn't be sure. I have played a few grade 6 pieces and they were ok though. There are certain things I'm quite good at, and others I'd like to improve. I play electric too so I'm not a fully classical dedicated player. I can handle most stuff with a little time, especially the sort of thing that comes up in duets. Solo guitar is actually quite difficult in standard tuning. The only guage I have of my "ability" is an A in Leaving Cert music... but that's not saying much really.

I'll PM or post a duet in a bit. See you later.

cabla

no problem you sound good anyway. talk to ya soon.

HusseinSarhan

I should be able to find something in my Uinversity's sheet music archive/library. I'll let you know when I do, possibly tomorrow, if I get my request in early enough.

cabla

cool where you studying?

HusseinSarhan

Trinity

cabla

cool you doing music?

HusseinSarhan

I'm doing English and Art History. I got a duet today by Ottavio Negro. I had not heard of him so I didn't know what to expect. It looks a bit wacky from the score. Not really straightforward by any means. I really think I'd need to hear it to get it right. It doesn't look especially tuneful. I'll let you know what the story is with it in a day or two. I'll try and get something in the mean time.

cabla

ok no problem

thehomeofDob

Just popping in to say I'm still interested in this... would like to take a look over any song ideas you guys have.

cabla

ask husseinsarhan. where in d15 u from? im in d15 too

HusseinSarhan

Hi all,

This piece I have is not really going to work, certainly not as something to get us going. I cam accross a few pieces for two guitars and violin believe it or not so that could be an option too. I'm a bit busy these days as my final exams arebegining this coming week. There are a lot more readily available tunes for flute and guitar than violin and guitar. I can't imagine it being that difficult to play flute parts on a violin given the tuning and range. Would that be all right? Alternatively, I might just spend a bit of time and voice/simplify some famous orchestral theme for guitar duet and violin. Plenty of scope with that setup and it should not prove overly difficult. I'll let you both know what the séal is at the weekend probably.

Later.

cabla

ok no problem

diamop

hi would you be interested in including an electric bass in any of this? i arranged a few piano pieces for the bass and guitar but my friends aren't really interested in playing them and i'd really like to play this kind of music with other people who enjoy it. For example a baroque piece written for quartet would sound quite interesting played on a violin, two guitars and a bass, but I'd like to hear what yous think anyway.

cabla

im not organising this so no comment, would be different maybe a bit weird.

HusseinSarhan

I haven't forgotten about this it's just that I'm really busy at the moment, and will for about a week or so. I'll post up again then.

EDIT* I'm finding it hard enough to get a hold of any violin/guitar duets but have found, naturally, a lot for guitar duo. I have copies of some simple duets that would be good to begin with. Nothing challenging really, nearly sight-readable straight off, but still a good place to begin. Diamop - your ideas sound interesting but initially I'd justlike to play with other guitarists or maybe with violin as that is workable quite easily as a combination and has quite a lot of scope. Cheers for posting anyway. I'm nearly certai nsomeone else would want to pick you up on this one.

diamop

sound man dont worry about it, good luck!

haemogoblin

hey hussein, this is dónal, seán's friend. you should check out astor piazzola, he has a few of his pieces arranged for guitar and other instruments. i have the score to a piece of his 'libertango' which wold work well on guitar and violin. he's good too, he's not called the 'tango king' for nothing!

HusseinSarhan

Yo Dónal. That's a deadly nickname... a little more imaginative than mine perhaps. Cheers for the tip, I'll check him out for sure. Is that the same Brazillian stuff you showed me once. A kind of white-ish book. I think that was bosa nova and stuff...

Anyway, once saturday comes I'll be glad - no more exams.

I did have a go at voicing Bach's Double Violin Concerto in D minor [Bwv 1043, Vivace for guitar duet. I took the continuo (or attic bass-whatever it's called) and the lead melodyto begin with. It's really contrapuntal (obviously being baroque and Bach of all people) with plenty happening at a lot of levels, so you do lose some of the richness when playing it on guitar. I played what I had then transcribed with a friend the other evening and it still sounds great even like that as a duet. Despite playing in much the same register, the difference in rhythm keeps it entertaining. There is just a different vibe off it for guitar duet. It would be great to do the lot but it's a long piece; definately has a lot of potential for guitar duet for sure but trio would be more faithful to the original ideas.

It just dawned on me that I should just pick up the score for the orchestral version and do some chopping, it'd take so much less time.

HusseinSarhan

ok, I've got some music right here. PM me or confirm hereand I'll PM you it.

Cheers

paul mccarthy

Hey hussein I`d definetly be interested in playing duo`s for guitar. I`ve got at least ten; mostly by Carulli. Please let me be in the trio/quartet. I`m a cometent guitarist and have been seriously considering playing restaurant gig`s etc. Im siting the grade seven exam with the associated boards with a view to pursuing it in college.I have plenty of free time ( being a musician). If it seems like I`m over enthusiastic, it`s because I am!?

HusseinSarhan

Hi - That sounds great Paul. You sound very experienced (probably much more than me) and it would be grat to have a go at some stuff. Just PM or link me to whatever duet(s) you'd first like to have a go at and I'll learn them and we can get playing together. I have a lot of free time too so I'd be interested in getting going on this.

thehomeofDob is also quite interested too. I've just PM'd him with some stuff I said I would but we'll see how we get on anyway. A trio would be very cool.

So Paul, just send me a link or PM me if you have any questions.

By the way - go easy on me too! Nothing too technical for the first piece - but i don't mind a challenge.

paul mccarthy

Hey I'm not sure if I sent the pm properly so I'll post here as well. Not sure how to send you the scores? But I can give you a list of them? Easy ones like Greensleeves for two guitars to difficult pieces like Souvenir De Roussie by Sor ( from what I've played it sounds beautiful). Good if we could get a violinist too. Homeofthedob interested too?

HusseinSarhan

Yo, check your PMs. I got your's fine.

That Sor piece you mentioned is a great one by the way.

thehomeofDob

I'm still here - and still interested. Have gone over some of the pieces Hussein sent me, wouldn't take a lot of work to get them to a playable level.

paul mccarthy

Thats great homeofthedob, can you give me the names of some of them? I'm sending Hussein some scores so I assume he'll pass them on to you.

HusseinSarhan

So far all the music has been duets that we're talking about. We all seem to be looking forward to getting this goign so why don't we settle on a piece for trio and do that together. It would be ideal to get a trio going. I was thinking duets because of a lack of people or whatever but if there are three of us here why not give a trio a go? Paul, homeoftheDob ... any suggestions?

Sorry about any confusion - I think getting started on an actual trio would be cool and getting to play with each other too.

See you later

paul mccarthy

Sure that sounds cool with me, I'm just eager to start practising something. Although I don't have any pieces for three?

HusseinSarhan

Ok, I guess I'll pick something so and I'll PM you both the music. I'll try to be as quick as I can. Expoect to get my message in the next couple of days.

cabla

sorry i forgot about this for some reason, anyway i know a place that wants music i think its a cafe. You still interested?

paul mccarthy

Count me in!

HusseinSarhan

Yes I am - just let me know what music it is you want to play and I'll let you know. Give me the names of the specific pieces I mean. I'll be picking up some music in town tomorrow so I should be able to get whatever it is you want to play too.

Cheers.

cabla

To be honest this is your project and i dont mind on the music, ill play anything, anything you think is good etc. Ill also enquire about that cafe and also can we maybe get 1 going with paul above aswell

HusseinSarhan

Ok. Get something going with Paul in the meantime if he's ready too. Sounds like a good gig if it's regular enough.

I have had some trouble finding guitar and violin pieces though. I'll scout about some more.

By the way, I am certain I'll have those classical guitar trios tomorrow so we should be getting started pretty soon.

See you later

HusseinSarhan

Got them. Lots of good stuff, Bach, Duarte, etc. I'll send PM's tomorrow some time.

paul mccarthy

Excellent! I can`t wait to get started, look forward to learning them all-cheers

HusseinSarhan

homeoftheDob and Paul, check your PM inboxes. I just sent you a link to the music.

Let me know what you think. Detials in the PM.