IARGUS 2007

Posted on February 20th, 2007 in Classical Guitar Artists by classgui

IARGUS 2007!!!
Dear Guitarists,

I hope by now it is clear to everyone that the Russian seven-string guitar offers a whole neighboring universe to classical (and not-so-classical) guitarists. One can be enamored by the fiery Gypsy dances, fascinated by the complexity of Sychra’s and Vysotsky’s compositions, blown away by the virtuosity needed to perform Sergei Orekhov’s variations. Or one can be intrigued by the possibilities of the DGBdgbd’ tuning for the future, which may include transcribing the existing piano and orchestra music as well as composing new music especially for the Russian guitar (such as Concerto di Novgorod by Angelo Gilardino). Or one can shy away from getting involved in all this and stay on the beaten track. One thing is clear: the treasures are all there, and the most efficient way to get exposure is to attend our annual seminar, IARGUS 2007.

Both the audience and the participants loved last year’s festival, IARGUS 2006 (feel free to check out some videos at http://www.guitarandluteissues.com/videos/iargus2006.htm). IARGUS 2007 is going to be a more colorful, more diverse, and overall, more interesting event, where the resourcefulness and versatility of the Russian guitar will be represented in their full glory. For example, we are inviting a specialist in Portuguese guitar Pedro Caldeira Cabral, since – as some of you know – our instruments share a predecessor, the so-called “English guitar.” The festival will have a very special guest – Tony Morris, the producer of Classical Guitar Alive!, who will be preparing a full-length report for his renowned NPR program. And we are particularly proud to present some of the best Russian guitarists today, Dmitri Illarionov, Julia Lonskaya, and Nadia Borislova.

One more thing: you don’t have to be an advanced player to enroll as a student, you don’t even have to own a Russian guitar. Our goal is to make this exciting musical culture available to everyone interested, so our patient faculty will gladly teach the instrument at any level. The full general tuition is $350 ($250 for college and highschool students), and this includes admission to all of IARGUS 2007 concerts. To register, please send checks or money orders to

IARMAC
423 7th Ave. South,
Iowa City, IA 52245

For more information, write to iarmac(at)russianguitar(dot)net

Hope to see you ALL here!

Oleg Timofeyev, Artistic Director
IARMAC (Int’l Academy for Russian Music, Arts, and Culture)

Roland Dyens’ performance in Columbus, Ohio

Posted on February 18th, 2007 in Classical Guitar Artists by classgui

I went and saw Roland Dyens last night here in Columbus, Ohio. I hadn’t seen him in performance for a couple of years now, and I forgot how he starts his performances. A minute or two into his first piece, I remembered what he had said on stage a couple years ago at Oberlin University. In his heavy french accent and emphasis on the stressed syllables in that language, “I began each of my performances with an improvisation.” So I leaned over to my wife and whispered, “Watch this – this will be interesting.”

Sure enough – Roland did not disappoint. He also played Mauro Giuliani’s Variations on a Theme of Handel (“The Harmonious Blacksmith”), op. 107; Fernando Sor’s Grand Sonata; his own version of Alfonsina y El Mar; three pieces from his Night and Day CD – All of Me; A Night in Tunisia; and Night and Day. He also played two movements from Triaela. As is typical with Monsieur Dyens, he announced his program from the stage, so I am forgetting a couple of the pieces he played. I’ll have to test the memories of a couple friends. As always, it was an excellent performance, and I highly recommend seeing him if you haven’t or even if you already have.

Several of us joined M. Dyens for dinner after the concert. He was equally engaging in conversation as he was in performance. If you go see him in concert, make sure and introduce yourself afterwards. If you play for him in a master class, don’t play one of his compositions for him though. He described it as looking in a mirror. And for that matter, don’t play a tremolo piece either.

I picked up his 20 Letters and I’m trying to find a copy of his Night and Day arrangements.

For his remaining concert schedule check here

Look inside this title
20 Letters - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com		 20 Letters By Roland Dyens. For Guitar (CD). Published by Lemoine. (564028030)
See more info…
Triaela By Roland Dyens. For Guitar. Published by Lemoine. (564014940)
See more info…
Tango En Skai By Roland Dyens. For Guitar & Str Orchestra. Score and parts. Published by Lemoine. (576008050)
See more info…

Sheet music people have come to this site searching for

Posted on February 13th, 2007 in Classical Guitar Supplies,Purchase sheet music by classgui
The Very Best of Jorge Morel - Volume 1 - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com The Very Best of Jorge Morel – Volume 1 Virtuoso South American Guitar. Performed by Jorge Morel. Guitar Book. Size 8.5×11.25 inches. 104 pages. Published by Ashley Mark Publishing Company. (699797)
See more info…

Many people have come to this site looking for sheet music to Morel’s Missionera. This book includes Missionera, Danza Brasilera, Romance Criollo, and others.

Jose Luis Merlin: Suite Del Recuerdo - Guitar - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Jose Luis Merlin: Suite Del Recuerdo – Guitar Composed by Jose Luis Merlin (1952-). Guitar solo book for guitar. With standard guitar notation (no tablature) and guitar notation legend. 15 pages. Published by Tuscany. (PR.494017830)
See more info…

Sheet music for Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Sueno Con Caballos By Jose Luis Merlin. For guitar. Published by Tuscany. (494024540)
See more info…
Look inside this title
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Collected Works For Solo Guitar - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com		 Heitor Villa-Lobos: Collected Works For Solo Guitar Composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959). Guitar solo book for guitar. With standard guitar notation (no tablature), introductory text and performance notes. 95 pages. Published by Durand. (HL.50560932)
See more info…

How to build a classical guitar

Posted on February 6th, 2007 in Classical Guitar Supplies by classgui

Just received my copy of Classical Guitar Making – A Modern Approach to Traditional Design by John S. Bogdanovich. I don’t have a real interest in building a classical guitar but do have an interest in how they are made. I’ve only read through the first few chapters and have really enjoyed Bogdanovich’s work so far. Bogdanovich takes the approach of leading the reader through the process of building a classical guitar from A to Z. He starts out with the anatomy of the classical guitar and then gets into the most important aspect of the guitar, “the sound.” He indicates that whether you are building or buying a classical guitar, you must have an idea of what your ideal sound is. To find that, you must hear/play a lot of guitars. I’ll be interested to see what he has to say on what can be done in the building process to produce certain types of sound.

If you are looking to buy a classical guitar or already own one or several, this is a must read book for discovering what makes your instrument tick.