Three Lorca Songs by Nick Benavides, performed by Jarring Sounds. Nick is a young composer in San Francisco making significant contributions to the genre. Jarring Sounds also hales from SF and is commissioning new work for voice and guitar as well as performing Renaissance and baroque music on authentic instruments. All have degrees from my alma mater, San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Jarring Sounds was formed in 2011 out of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a result of mutual artistic interests. Comprised of mezzo-soprano Danielle Reutter-Harrah and Adam Cockerham, who plays guitar, lute, & theorbo, the duo is committed to the repertoire of early European songs of the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as contemporary classical works of the 20th and 21st centuries. The small ensemble setting of a single voice and instrument allows for flexible creative interpretation not possible in a larger setting.
“Jarring Sounds” may have a modern connotation, which resonates with their affinity for contemporary compositions. The line is in fact taken directly from the lyrics in John Dowland’s (1563-1626) lute ayre “In Darkness Let Me Dwell,” one of the first collaborations between Reutter-Harrah and Cockerham. The name’s link to both early and recent works exemplifies the duo’s artistic mission.
http://www.bowdoin.edu/calendar/event.jsp?bid=676585&rid=79071#.UxNzJ_RdXoE
Another wonderful and unusual voice and guitar duo from San Francisco, Alexandra sings and plays herself. Great singing and playing!
One Great City (!)
Duo Fado performs Endecha by Matilde Salvador (by DuoFado)
mezzo-soprano Gudrún Ólafsdóttir and Francisco Javier Jáuregui (via Multimedia @ Francisco Javier Jáuregui) perform their arrangement of Sof thú, blídust barnkind mín (Icelandic Folk Song). There is also a haunting performance/debut of Adriano by Agustín Castilla-Avila on their media page or YouTube channel.
I have recently received this unusual and wonderful CD from a new group of seasoned performers -
Since 2009 Sytse Buwalda forms a duo with guitarist Saskia Spinder. Famous composer Leo Brouwer wrote and dedicated his Ballade de un dia de julioto them after hearing their performance at the International Guitar Festival Zwolle, as did New York based Greek composer Victor Khioulaphides with his song cycle Violenstraat. In 2011 they asked award winning mandolinist Ferdinand Binnendijk to join them which led to the foundation of the Asteria Ensemble: an ensemble specialised and dedicated to new compositions. This year they await new compositions by Victor Khioulaphides, Pablo Escande, Daan Manneke and Tom Edskes. April 2013 the Asteria Ensemble will release their first cd which will contain several world premieres by a.o.: Leo Brouwer, Victor Khioulaphides.
Michael Nicolella has posted a video of his beautiful songs for soprano, guitar and orchestra.
Syzygy is one of my grandest works - 40 minutes / 16 songs - on the poetry of my wife and partner Nancy Knowles. We are so grateful to the folks at Cal State Fullerton - and all the modern technology that allowed us to recover this five year old performance of selections.
Concerts November 3 and 10; see Facebook link below for details.
Dave McLellan writes: I’m writing to introduce the voice and guitar duo of Rebekah Alexander and Dave McLellan. Weformed this musical union in the fall of 2011, having discovered our shared inspiration to present classical music to a broad variety of audiences in unusual ways.
Our first major project is fully underway – “This is My Letter to the World” is a musical presentation of great American and English poetry, and ancient Chinese philosophy in English translation. The program features music of three 20th English composers - Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley, and Stephen Dodgson - and the American guitarist/composer David Leisner.
The program takes its title from the well-known poem by Emily Dickinson. In its simple but deeply emotional setting by Leisner, Dickinson cries out to the world, who seems not to have noticed her intense emotional expressions in poetry. Rebekah Alexander conceived of the program after a suggestion from guitarist Dave McLellan that they work together on a recital tour during the 2012-2013 season.
Facebook www.facebook.com/dave.a.mclellan
Twitter www.twitter.com/davemanstein
Voice and Guitar is a record of people dedicated to art song with the guitar; curated by composer / guitarist / singer Frank Wallace who has written over 100 songs, published by Gyre Music. Send a link for us to post if you are actively involved with voice and guitar as composer or performer.