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I happened to pick up this book, and I was playing through it, when I said to myself, "wow, these are great pieces". I was specifically playing "Cancion del Emperador" by Luis de Narvaez, which I had never played before, and was thrilled at how beautiful the piece was. Then, I thought " I wonder who put this collection together". So, I looked inside the front cover, and in small print, I saw the explanation. It said "compiled and arranged by Jerry Williard". Jerry Williard happens to have been the best teacher I ever had. He is also one of the best musicians and guitarists I have ever personally met. Quite eccentric, he would often not be there when I arrived for my lesson, or just be rolling out of bed in his cramped one room New York City apartment. (This was many years ago before he became a professor at SUNY in Stonybrook). Like me, he never attended a music school, but was privately taught, and self developed, a true bohemian type artist. Not only did he do more to show me how to practice and develop myself as a guitarist than anyone else, he was and is a great musician with excellent taste in music, which explains the great pieces he picked for this collection. The renaissance lute pieces included in Book 1 are wonderful, such as Dowlands Fantasia, Robert Johnsons Almain, and the Pavanes of Luis Milan. A large helping of some of the best of Bach, Carcassi, Giuliani, Sor and Tarrega are also included.
Book 2 has more of Dowland's best, as well as DeVisee's Suite in Dminor, Santiago De Murcias exquisite Prelude & Allegro. I have been having a great time playing Giuliani's "Rossiniane", and his "Eroica Sonata" is here as well. In this 2nd Book, Tarrega's Capricho Arabe, Adelita and Lagrima are included, among many others. |
