I’ve mentioned before how much I love guitar music. Well, I did it. I’ve wanted a guitar of my own for many months. I finally bought myself one — not too expensive, and not a piece of trash, just a nice, modestly-priced beginner’s acoustic guitar. I’ve begun learning to play it, and I’m hooked. My guitar is my best new friend, and is rapidly becoming essential to me.
I hesitate to mention the following in the same post as my halting beginner’s attempts. If you heard me play, you’d think it wasn’t even the same instrument as what these guys play, and it’s not exactly, since mine isn’t a classic guitar with nylon strings, and theirs probably cost thousands — but anyway, the word “guitar” is involved.
Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces may be the best money I’ve ever spent on anything. It’s a 2-CD set. The first is 77 minutes long and the second is 75, so I get 2-1/2 hours of bliss for less than what I’d usually pay for one CD. It includes Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by Pepe Romero on the guitar with the Acadamy of St. Martin in the Fields (I needed to replace my old LP recording of that), plus 30 other classical compositions and traditional Spanish pieces, performed by various guitar masters including Pepe Romero, Los Romeros, Julian Bream, Andrés Segovia and others. The composers include Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos, Bach, Vivaldi, Albéniz, Scarlatti, and more.
Have you ever heard music that you wanted to last forever, maybe even to dive inside and live there for a while, immersing yourself in sound? That’s how I feel about this collection. The only problem I have with it is that I bought it thinking it might be nice to listen to while I write. Not so. It’s terrible for that. I’ll sit with my hands poised above the laptop keyboard, assuring myself I’ll get some work done while I listen. The music takes hold and carries me away.
I’m not expert at describing this or any type of music. I just know what I love. You might too, if you enjoy classical or Spanish guitar — unless you have absurd expectations about combining listening with work.
1.
Such a nice post. Bravo for doing this! I’ve thought (forever) about taking up Spanish. Would love to learn the language, but I keep on thinking I’m too old, You’re an inspiration.
BTW, I had an Amazon gift certificate, so jump over there and placed an order for the guitar CD you linked. I need some new music in the house and I really enjoy classical guitar - and by the reviews (in addition to yours) at Amazon, this one is a gem.
BTW also
I tried to leave a comment on your last post but it vanished into cyberspace somewhere and I didn’t have time to retype.
Comment by Reenie — April 3, 2007 @ 4:07 am
2.
I commented a minute ago, but it seems to have disappeared.
I just wanted to wish you luck with your guitar. My friend has been taking lessons for a couple of years and loves it.
Cas
Comment by cassie-b — April 3, 2007 @ 6:24 am
3.
I apologize for any trouble readers have had commenting here. The webmaster has been adjusting the spam controls, and sometimes such adjustments may go in the direction of being too restrictive. In the process of keeping offensive material off the blog (there’s a disturbing amount of it that readers never see and, trust me, you don’t want to), our intent is most assuredly not to censor legitimate comments. But this gets tricky, and seems at times to be a constant uphill battle. Hopefully any problems you had commenting are now resolved.
Comment by Barbara — April 3, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
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Reenie — I’m finding that music is a language in itself, one that was always foreign to me. I’m having so much fun. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this nearly as much, as a kid. In fact, I fiddled around with the piano and tried the guitar, as a teenager, and never stretched myself enough to get anywhere. Now — at 50 — it’s like candy to me. Maybe now I value the time spent more than I did then. I’m also much less of a perfectionist with myself. I want to do it right, but I’m past beating myself up over my errors. Now I relax and enjoy learning more than I did then.
Cassie-b — Thanks! It’s encouraging to know your friend still loves it after the passage of time.
Comment by Barbara — April 3, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
5.
There’s been no change in the last day or two regarding spam controls, likely the reason that cassie-b lost a comment is that spammers are hitting the site regularly and frequently, tying up rather limited server resources, and perhaps her comment coincided with a spammer hit. Reenie’s lost comment could be due to another, known issue that’s probably been resolved. There’s not really enough information to say for sure.
Regarding the guitar, Barbara, learning a musical instrument would likely or possibly help with the meter of your poetry. It might be a rather long lesson, though. If improved poetic meter is the main intent, then learning a few chords along with metronomic practical application is likely a time-saving shortcut, whereas single note picking such as learning classical is likely to take much more time but would probably, in the end, give you a deeper understanding of the instrument.
Comment by Pianist — April 3, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
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I’ve loved classical guitar music ever since I can remember. When I’m listening to it, the music never lasts long enough! I was fortunate to hear the master players live at the end of the last century- experiences I’ll never forget, along with the flamenco dancing the music often accompanied.
I’m not sure I’d try to listen while writing, however. When I have my attention on the computer, it’s all there. I hear nothing else that goes on in my house. Often I’ve had a little TV turned on beside me because something was upcoming on, say, the Today show, and I always miss it. Is too much concentration a dangerous thing?
Comment by Georganna Hancock — April 7, 2007 @ 11:29 am
7.
Congratulations! Follow your heart’s desire…you’ll never be sorry!!!
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Comment by Beverly Jackson — April 10, 2007 @ 4:18 am
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It’s just great that you took up guitar. I love learning new things. I’ve never learned an instrument, but I don’t rule it out.
Comment by violetismycolor — April 12, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
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My CD (essential guitar) arrived yesterday - nicest gift I’ve given myself in a long time. Thanks for the tip!
Comment by Reenie — April 18, 2007 @ 3:42 am