When the going gets tough, the tough get going

The going is getting really tough for me, but I'm not tough enough to get going. It's all coming after me, I used to touch dirt and turn it into gold, but now I touch gold and turn it to dust. I have to take an extremely imporatant decision, a decision that will make me regret for the rest of my life if it's not right, and I don't want to make this decision in this state of continuous bad fortune.
The tough can't get going anymore....I'm getting tired.

Take Five

Another one of my favourites. First time to listen to it on the guitar, thought about sharing it and give myself a break from my music.

Douglas Niedt ~ Take Five
Uploaded by quillscribe

Music I play V - Alegrías en Mi (Alborozo)

Alegrías are joyful toques (Alegría means joy or gaiety), light and carefree in spirit. They can express great intensity of feeling, tinged at times with melancholy, but the mood is mostly optimistic and high-spirited.

Alegrías belong to the larger family of toques (guitar playing) called Cantiñas. They originated from the sea-port of Cádiz and probably came into being by the flamenco adaptation of the lively Jotas sung by sailors from Aragon. The melodies of the Jotas were put to the compas of soleares and used for festive dances. Unlike Soleares and Seguiriyas, which are in the Phrygian mode, Alegrías are in the major key, a difference which contributes to their happier and more tuneful aire.

Metronome setting for this Alegría is Allegro
♩= 160

Asturias Leyenda - Isaac Albeniz

I used to play this one. Took me a year to master the whole piece. This video is only one third of it, but it gives another perspective to the already extremely beautiful masterpiece.
I'm practicing again to play it....hopefully next year

Asturias with flamenco
Uploaded by quillscribe

And here's the original played by the legend Andres Segovia himself

Andres Segovia - Asturias - Albeniz
Uploaded by Quarouble

Music I play IV - Verdiales

Verdiales are a Flamenco music style, and song form belonging to Canté Chico (Light hearted and less serious music form).
Originating in Los Verdiales, an olive-growing area in the province of Málaga, where a kind of olive known as verdial is grown. It is a fandango that could be fitted within the category of the malagueñas sometimes known as Fandangos de Málaga.
With Moorish origins, it is a cante that can be danced to, and it clearly maintains its own folk roots.
The Compás of this Verdiales is 3/4.
Metronome setting is Allegro.
♩= 168

Flamenco glossary

Just in case someone is reading the blog and is interested in knowing the meanings of words included, you can find a glossary of the most common words used in Flamenco here.

Music I play III - Sevillana

Sevillanas are a lively and tuneful form of Andaluz folk music, strongly influenced by Flamenco and now a part of it. They are said to have originated two or three centuries ago from the Seguidillas manchegas of old Castile. Today a great variety of Sevillanas, to be sung, danced to and played on the guitar, have become popular throughout Andalucia, and new melodies and verses are continually being created. The strongly rhythmic compás is common to all.

The spirit or Aire of Sevillanas is usually exuberant, but some of the melodies and verses are in more serious vein. Those in Phrygian mode have a typically flamenco character. The pace is usually brisk, but may be slower and more deliberate in some of the serious coplas.

The Compás of this Sevillana is 3/4.

speed of this sevillana is Andante.

♩= 76

Music I play II - Tientos

Tangos are a basic form of flamenco rhythm, probably originating from Cadiz and Sevilla. Tientos are the most solemn and profound Cante (song) and Toque (playing style) of the group and they are distinguished from the faster styles of Tangos by their characteristic Compas (metre) and by their serious themes. The word Tiento literally means a 'touch'.

This Tiento uses the flamenco scale (similar to the Phrygian mode) in the por medio position based on the key of A and a meter of 4/4.

speed of this Tiento is Andante-moderato

♩= 104

Music I play I - Primera solea

The first piece in this series is called : "Primera Soleá"

Soleá, (or soleares to use the plural form) is one of the most basic forms or "palos" of Flamenco music, the exact historical origins of soleares are uncertain and controversial. Probably the most important center of its development was the Triana district of Sevilla in the early nineteenth century. The word 'Soleá' is probably a corruption of soledad which means solitude or loneliness.

Soleá is one of the flamenco palos with the highest number of traditional songs, and it is particularly appreciated by knowledgeable artists and audiences. It is very demanding for singers, as they have to strive to be creative and, at the same time, respectful of the tradition, and they have to succeed in finding a good balance between melody and rhythm, both extremely difficult. It demands great vocal faculties, and the singer should achieve a balance between passion and restraint.

This Soleá is really simple and slow, but it's the basic rhythm for all traditional soleares and even other forms of Flamenco music like the Bulerías.

The Soleá uses the flamenco scale (similar to the Phrygian mode) and a meter of 3/4 although the soleares measure is usually built up from 6 and 12 beat phrases.

speed of this solea is Andante (best speed for this solea is ranging from 88-104)

♩= 88

Composer: Traditional

Notation: Juan Martin

Guitar used: Almansa 403 Abeto.

(If you don't like my playing, just enjoy the intro)

Music I play

I have decided to start a new series which I will call, "music I play". I finally found something I love and can be added to the blog. I have been playing the guitar for 15 years now, but haven't touched one in almost 5 years. I always had a guitar with me at all times, but never played it though. I always had my fingernails carefully shaped and maintained, ready to go at any time. But still I never played for ages.
My friends all think that I can play a couple of songs and know a couple of guitar tricks, nothing more. The reason for it was that I never played any popular music and I thought that flamenco especially wont be interesting for them. But from now on I will play for my self, I will be my own audience and my own judge on music I play.
I don't know how long will it take me to start getting something out of my guitar and my old stiff fingers, but I will start practicing as hard as I can and hopefully I will be able to record something decent and upload to the blog.
Just bear with me, it's been a very long time since I last played.

Viva el arte.
T.