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This month…
• Free piece
• Gallery of Guitar
• New publications
• Recommendations
Free Piece
Each year, when the weather began to get warmer, my father would sit in our backyard with his sketch pads and his colored pencils and draw as he listened to Irish music. He loved The Chieftains and the Clancy Brothers. This music drove me crazy as a teenager. I didn't get it. Why is everyone just playing the melody and singing depressing stories about leaving home?
My father would try to get me to sit and listen to the music with him, and if I did, he would tell me stories about his parents and family as we listened. My grandparents had passed before I was born, so when my father would tell me these stories, he would always use a heavy Irish brogue to mimic their way of speaking. I loved that. I could listen to him talk like that for hours.
My father had the chance to travel to Ireland with his two brothers in 1998. He spent a few weeks meeting family, including a half sister he had never met before. He visited the place where his parents lived and grew up. When he came home, he was changed. Happy. He felt complete.
As I got older, I developed a deep love for my Irish heritage. This included the history, folklore, and especially the music of Ireland. One day, I hope to make it over there with Marie and Kian so we can meet some of our family in County Clare. It's something I deeply need to experience.
So, long story short (too late), in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and all things Irish, this month's free piece is my arrangement of Báidín Fheilimí (a folksong & slide) and The Booley House (a slip jig). I hope you enjoy playing them, or just listening!
Each of us have released new albums in the last few months (I will list these, with links, below). We discussed the inspiration, programming, and production of each of our albums. It was a wonderfully informative conversation. If you haven't watched it, you can view it here.
I am so honored to have my music recognized by three of my favorite classical guitarists!
FYI for classical guitarists and guitar ensemble teachers…
I have two guitar quartets and a guitar trio being published by Guitar Chamber Music Press in the coming weeks.
“Winter Sun” for Guitar Quartet (beginning/intermediate ensemble)
“Mechanisms” for Guitar Quartet (intermediate ensemble)
“Clouds and Cathedrals” for Guitar Trio (intermediate ensemble)
In the meantime, you can see my pieces that are currently available on my artist page at Guitar Chamber Music Press.
Recommendations
Keepeing with the St. Pat's theme, here are some of my favorite Irish albums and books…
That's all for March…
“City Lights Hide the Stars” has been doing well. I appreciate everyone who has listened and shared the album with friends and family. Word of mouth really helps me get into new ears. If you listen on streaming platforms, please consider adding me as a favorite artist. That also helps my music navigate through the algorithmic mud.
So far, the Pirates look good in spring training. We'll be heading out to Pittsburgh for the home opening weekend in April. So happy that baseball is back.
