Worcester Classical Guitar Society
The Guitar Society promotes ensemble playing for guitarists of all ages and abilities. We have a Guitar Orchestra, a Youth Guitar Orchestra (WYGO) and the long-standing Worcester Guitar Quartet. We also encourage other ensembles and solo playing.
New members are very welcome - just follow the rehearsals link below and join us at St. George's
Read on for all the news on artists, concerts and other random ramblings that may be of interest.
We also have some guitar music videos for you to enjoy.
Ernest Shand
Music Collection
Forgotten Songs
Edited by Alexandra Whittingham
Ernest Shand was a musician, composer and guitarist born in Hull in January 1868. He died in November 1924 and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his death Camden Music has published this collection of 22 of Shand’s guitar compositions.
The pieces are selected and edited by Alexandra Whittingham who has championed the music of Ernest Hand. We have a link below to the Camden Music website should you wish to purchase this collection. Additionally we have a link to Alexandra Whittingham playing one of the pieces, entitled “Légende"
Camden Music Website HERE
Alexandra Whittingham plays “Légende" HERE
Plays Lejos de Casa
Andrea González Caballero
The female voice of the Spanish Guitar
The BBC Music Magazine described Andrea as one of today’s young rising stars of the classical guitar. Andrea has appeared at international festivals and concert series around the world.
In her effort to promote and expand the classical guitar repertoire, Andrea has premiered pieces composed by Sergio Assad, Joaquín Clerch, Carlos Fernando López and Dustin Carlson among others.
Here Andrea is playing “Lejos de Casa” by the Argentinian composer Maximo Diego Pujol. Beautifully played and a superb sound on this YouTube recording.
Listen to Lejos de Casa HERE
Duo’s Latest CD
Duo
"Playing songs you know in ways you probably don’t"
Ben Bruant and Will Cashel form the guitar duo called, well, Duo. Both are graduates of the Royal Academy of Music. They were recently seen playing at Malvern Theatres’ recently added Studio Theatre by one of our eagle-eyed members. They bring a modern approach to guitar music, perhaps following in the footsteps of the Katona Twins in their live performances, as can be seen in the video link below.
At their recent performance at Malvern they played a combination of popular tunes including stuff by the Who, Queen, Abba and Dire Straits and a number of their own compositions. There's a definite fllamenco flavour to a lot of their playing and quite a lot of 'shredding' if that's an acceptable word in classical circles. Their latest album, 'Destino' is entirely their own work and it's really good.
We have a link to highlights of a recent G-Live concert - certainly highlights their lively appoach to their music. There’s also a link to Duo’s own website where you will find more information, more music and samples of their latest album Destino which, as reported above, is well worth a listen. Available as CD together with digital download.
Watch Live Concert Highlights HERE
Duo Website HERE
New from Katona Twins
Alhambra Inspirations
New Album from Katona Twins
Just outside Granada, in Spain sits the wonderful Alhambra Palace built during the Moorish occupation of Spain. The reconquest of Spain was completed by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. The Sultan of Granada, Muhammad XII, surrendered the city and went into exile. Legend has it that he took a last view of the city and sighed - el Suspiro del Moro, or "the Moor’s Last Sigh”. His indomitable mother said “Do not cry like a woman for that which you would not defend as a man.” Harsh!
The Alhambra Palace has been the inspiration for many guitarists and composers. Francisco Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra is of course a much played iconic work for solo guitar. On this recording we have works by Albéniz, Granados, Boccherini and the lesser known (to me) Joaquín Turina y Perez. For some of the tracks the Twins are joined by the orchestra of La Chapelle Musicale de Tournai.
The CD opens with the Katona Twins arrangement of Asturias by Albeniz. The track is entitled “Albeniz for Two” and played with typical Katona Twins flair and style. We have a link to the video of this track below. The album is available as a CD, digital download, or via streaming services.
Albeniz for Two Video HERE
Guitar Players Wanted
Guitar Soc Rehearsal
St. George’s Church Hall, Jan 12th, 6:30 pm
Our first rehearsal of the New Year will be on Jan 12th at our normal venue - St. George”s Church Hall in Barbourne, Worcester. As the season progresses we look forward to welcoming any new players who would like to join our regular players as we work towards our annual concert in June.
We will be working on the music arrangements aimed at our next concert in June next year. If you would like to join our players please come along. We meet on the second Sunday of each month, bring your guitar and music stand and come along.
We try to make time for members of the society to play solos or duets at our meetings, for those who would like to do so. If you need a new challenge in the New Year, come along and play with us!
Guitar Recital
Sat April 12th, 2:30 pm
Eleanor Kelly
Guitar Recital & Talk
St. George’s Church Hall, Barbourne
Eleanor Kelly is a Classical Guitarist based in Merseyside and we are pleased that she has agreed to come and give us a recital at the Magdelen Hall, St George’s Church in Barbourne here in Worcester.
A passionate advocate for women in music, Eleanor specialises in lesser-known repertoire by both historical and contemporary women composers. She gave the Irish première of Claudia Montero's Latin Grammy award-winning guitar concerto Luces y Sombras with ConTempo String Quartet in 2023, and the British première with Musica Argentina Ensemble in 2019. Eleanor has also premièred a number of new solo works by women: as an Illuminate Women's Music Artist, upon commission by IGF's La Leona scheme, and as a Faculty Artist at the Classical Minds Guitar Festival.
We are pleased that Eleanor will give us a talk on this aspect of her work - the role of women in music - prior to her recital.
In 2021, Eleanor graduated from the prestigious 'Máster en Interpretación de Guitarra Clásica' course at Universidad de Alicante, Spain, where she studied with the world's foremost performers and teachers including: David Russell, Ignacio Rodes, Ricardo Gallén, Hopkinson Smith, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, Tilman Hoppstock, and Roberto Aussel.
Tickets available on the Door
© 2024 Worcester Classical Guitar Society