Canberra Classical Guitar

Perth-based classical guitarist Alan Banks will be among the throng of artists performing at the 2010 National Folk Festival. Alan will be conducting a workshop (Introduction to the lute) as well as performing during the Easter long weekend.   Flamenco and other performance styles are also on the extensive festival program.

Good news if you live in Tasmania or are under 5 years of age – you get in free. Otherwise, dig deep.

Guitarist Milena Cifali enlightened the audience at the Belconnen Arts Centre on 11 Feb 2010 with a “world in six strings.”   After her final piece she was given sustained, rousing applause from the small but strongly appreciative audience.  I overheard one member sum up the experience as ‘a real journey’.

The concert began with the Cuban piece Danza Del Altiplano by Leo Brouwer and then moved to the more sketchy English Suite by John Duarte (England) based on its fusion of jazz guitar and the earlier influence of the English lute music.  From there we crossed the channel to guitar arrangements of Erik Satie’s piano music. The familiar and popular Gymnopedie number 1 was sweet, clear and strongly felt in Cifali’s hands. The companion piece, Gnossiene number 1, was Cifali’s own arrangement with the instrument tuned to the underlying minor chord to provide a richer more resonant sound for the piece.

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