The question, for me, is not what would Scarlatti or Bach (et al) have done had they played the guitar. The question is, what will I do with their music on the guitar? The great advantage of playing early music on a modern instrument (the classical guitar) is that I do not have to limit my interpretations to what might be considered purely authentic.
Sounds Like
Traditional classical guitar, but in my own interpretations. Maybe that's wrong. I care not. I care not for those who believe in 'correct' interpretations. Musical interpretation is illumination, and it is only correct when the artists soul can communicated through it. I suppose my interpretations tend towards late romantic.
Interpretations of early to modern music. Renaissance, Baroque, Classical-Romantic, Impressionist. Modern neo-romantic music. Whatever resonates with my spirit.
"Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two.” -Fredric Chopin
I included 'Gothic' in my listings. This is not in the modern, industrial sense, but rather it is the type of music which sounds particularly engaging in a dark, echo-ey, Gothic cathedral. Many of my particular favourites are also rather dark-sounding; some about castles, some are actually dirges. So, aye, it's Gothic, too. But, having nothing to do with the Germanic Visigoth tribes of the European dark-ages, the connection is rather stretched.
Samuel has been playing the guitar in many forms for 16 years, and has been teaching for the last 6 years in many styles and age groups. He has received his Masters in Classical Guitar from Butler University, and is currently exploring options to complete a doctorate.
The current programme includes selected music from various periods in history coupled with brief lecture points about the relationship between each particular movement in music and corresponding movements in visual arts. Please visit my new interactive concert preview page at: sjlawson.freeshell.org
The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall,
The fly her speen, the little spark his heat,
And slender hairs cast shadows though but small,
And bees have stings although they be not great,
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs,
And love is love in beggars and in kings.
Where waters smoothest run, deep are the fords,
The dial stirs yet none perceives it move,
The firmest faith is in the fewest words,
The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love,
True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to spake:
They hear, and see, and sigh, and then they break.
Thadd and I were out to a well-known establishment here in Panama City Beach and there was a guy playing guitar and singing and Thadd turned to me and said how much better YOU Mr. Lawson were than that guy was. :)
Ciao Samuel Lawson - Una canzone è davvero bella quando le sue note giungono dritte al cuore! - A song is really beautiful when his notes come straight to the heart! - Una canción es realmente hermosa cuando sus notas vienen directamente al corazón!
