Excellent, he is a first class composer!

howdy. I've playing guitar for 13 year, classical especially for about 8ish years now. I am currently in an undergraduate music performance degree studying under Antony Field at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia. Antony studied under Tim Kain at the Canberra School of Music. At the moment he is a member of Saffire, a guitar quartet including Slava Grigoryan, Karin Schaupp and Gareth Koch.

He's a pretty cool dude. Having his professional experience gives all of the guitar department good insight into the world of classical guitar, at least within Australia. I'm in first year so I'm not John Williams yet (hehe) but I'm learning and reassuringly, I've notice improvements in my playing.

There's a bit of my classical guitar background.

I listened to some of you little samples matt and I'll take a guess and say you really enjoy the tunes you chose to record. I've always thought that if a performer really enjoys what they are playing, are really experiencing it, then it shows and so, people can appreciate it. I can appreciate your playing

What type of guitar are you playing? Everyone, let's talk instruments.

My teacher tells me Smallmans are as good as classical guitars get, but unfortunately, they are about as expensive too... At the moment I'm playing a guitar by a australian lutheir named David Buttrose. It's a nice enough guitar, but it's far from perfect. So, I'm on a waiting list for a gutar by Paul Sherriden, another Australian luthier. His guitar's are doing well at the moment and gaining in popularity. There's talk that Karin Schaupp is thinking of buying one, which is a plus for Paul.

Roivas, I'd be interested in seeing your scores too, if you wouldn't mind... btw, where are you living? I just thought it would be nice to get some insight into the clasical music scenes around the world.

Geoff, I think many will more than willingly agree with you there!

Hi Papa_Magotchi,

Thanks for the comments, glad you can appreciate what I have been working on for a while now, and yes I do love all the pieces I choose to record. That for me was a much more inspiring way to record an album than trying to find out what would sell or what would be looked upon by academisc etc.

Your class in melbourne sounds really interesting, I have heard timothy kain on record and obviously I have seen mr williams live, just this year actually in Scotland at the dundee international guitar festival.

www.dundeeguitarfestival.com

You are in good hands at your college, the very best of guidance, you are lucky and talented i'm sure.

The guitar I am playing is a Kwakkel, there is a link to him up on the site.

I have heard Slava before also, hmm...

So what repertoire are you studying at the moment?

At the moment I'm doing more rep than I've ever done before! Haha. Yes, just 1st year shock, I'm sure...

I'm doing the Allemande, Sarabande and Gigue from the Em lute suite. I'm loving them all... Bach's a bloody genius. Some nice standards, Recuerdos de la Alhambra (still working on that tremelo) and Capricho Arabe. Jorge Morel's Danza Brasilera. Theme and Variations by Lennox Berkeley. From Australian composer Phillip Houghton's Stele, I'm doing movements 1 and 2.

Just on that, earlier this year I was lucky enought to participate in a master class held by Phil. It was great to get feedback on my performace from the composer himself.

Have you heard of American performer/composer Benjamin Verdery? He's supposed to be real 'YEAH MAN!' sort of guy. It really shows in his music. I'm playing two of them, one, Capitola CA (which I don't particularly like... perhaps because I've played it so many times... for me it's been one of those pieces that you spend hours on and nothing improves... The other is a completely different story. Prelude and Wedding Dance. It's the best piece I've ever played! Haha, well, that is, I've never enjoyed playing a piece like I do this one. It's very flamboyant, full of energy and I can just see the streamers and confetti falling through the air as I play it If you haven't heard/played this piece, I'd recomend it.

On top of this rep, I'm doing a host of studies and exercises like brower, villa-lobos and pujol, which I am strangely enjoying... It's a bit odd, people usually tend to despise that sort of thing.

Haha, I've heard a few people 'hmm' when it comes to Slava! I haven't really heard anything of his to make me go 'hmm' but then I haven't heard much of his playing at all. What I have heard has convinced me that he read's the 'music', which keeps me happy. Even if it didn't, I don't think I'd say anything, his father was my teacher before Antony... and now Antony and Slava are in a quartet... so I feel slightly obliged...

But saying that, I doubt there is a performer who hasn't been critisised. Even John Williams has had a few sceptical eyes look his way.

Hi,

I have heard some Verdery, I think it might be the flower power shirts that put me off, but he seems to be well respected, the music is light, but always fits under the fingers, well written stuff.

I don't know the Houghton? Sounds interesting I may look it up.

The Bach you are playing is fantastic, I have been working on the Aminor Violin Sonata over the last week, that has to be my favourite sonata, I have a great Barrueco recording.

The Villa Lobos studies will really help you, I found them fantastic at college, not only are they great at sorting out slurring and right hand dexterity they are really strong pieces of music. I found the studies inspriring and worthy of inclusion in concert programmes.

Slava's father was your first teacher, you have been well looked after so far, very lucky, you must have been exposed to a lot of guitar in your formative years with the instrument.

I'm just not a fan of the way he plays, thats all, and where would the world be if we all liked the same thing. lol

Have you been to any of the Australian festivals? Can you give me any recomendations I will at some point visit!

Matthew

Houghton is one of Australia's finest composers for the guitar, perhaps the best. John Williams recorded Stele on his album 'The Guitarist'. If you have a copy, have a listen.

I only learnt from Slava's father for 4 years. Before him, I didn't really have a particularly serious or perceptive classical teacher. I had teachers who would really just give me music which was pleasant and interesting but not really testing and taught in a way as to challenge my musical understanding and performance. So, while I have some years behind me, I've only really been "learning" classical music for about 4 years, and most of that has been in the last three.

I just love to play. Even if I hadn't decided to study music at a tertiary level, I'd have continued playing. And I think that's what's driving me on. If I like the sound, I will endevour to experience it further, regardless of style.

Hi,

Hope you are well.

Australian festivals? Any hints, tips? Anything you could recommend?

Matt

I'm doing alright, I've got my final recital next week! *Practicing practicing*

Well, the only big one I can think of right now is the Australian Guitar Festival which is held in Newcastle.
here's a link, http://classicalguitarist.net/html/competition.html

Not sure of the date for the next one. I think it's in a year or two. There's also a relatively big one in Darwin next year I think. The Darwin International Guitar Festival. I hear that a good one. There are more, but these are the only two I can think of right now.

Thanks for the info!

Good luck for the exams, they get easier the further on you get in the course, what pieces are you playing?

Enjoy it!

Matthew

Yep. Exam went pretty well I think.
I played, from the first lute suite, Allemande and Gigue, Theme and Variations by Lennox Berkeley and Capitola and Prelude and Wedding Dance by Ben Verdery.
It did enjoy it, but I'm also glad it's over!

Oh well, now it's onto next years rep!