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I just picked this up on the Classical Guitar forum.... I dunno, but ToddK must be my favorite "forum" player of all! His sound always gets through to me, whether he's doing Flamenco or Classical!
I loved it ,I didnt knew that u have such a big repertoire.I imagine if you get famous and concert once in my country the boys here at local music school will faint (spelling...),it's ok to play one clasic tune with a pick but I never realized that u can really adapt everything .
I have a request too prelude in E major from lute suite no.4 and one more faster joaquin malats serenata espanola .Actually I have this question in the arrangement I found in the www.eythorsson.com the first measure(when u do that little ligados on the Am chord ) are done in the fifth position.Now my question is what arrangement do u have ?
And please one more ...what bach is the one after serenata espanola ? Cause I dont know what to look for. Thanks ,for the video I'm colecting them .
One more request , u said some time ago that u know the last tango from the encuentro tomatito video.Pretty please!!!
TK, I saw this on your forum. You are simply amazing. I'd love to get a list of those tunes too. I recognized most of them. We have the same taste in classical guitar.
Have you heard Eduardo Eguez? Go to MA recordings dot com to find him, a lute player, play bach in natural acoustic settings. Wonderful recordings.
Maple back and sides, eh? No doubt influenced by Ricardo's recent purchase?
Sonatina 1st movment by Torroba Scottish Choro Villa Lobos BWV 1006a Bouree E major Bach Seranata Espanola Malats Trancribed for guitar by Tarrega K213 Scarlatti Venazuelan Vals no 3 Antonio Lauro
I've read it ,and it seems ok to me ...in fact it's super ok. Now this is not the transcription that John Williams use(I've seen a video where he plays it ,the video was ripped from a whole concert....i think it's the same one that u are referring to .In that same concert ,it's improper to say concert cause he is alone in smth like a cathedral,I remember now that he plays the Scarlatti u play),so it's up to you.
I use this eythorsson cause it's free and they have good quality scores,i hate the one u can find on the net without proper fingerings for the right and the left hand. Just take a look after the 13th measure things start to sound just better and better ...
Just take a look at what they give for free(though i'm sure i over recomended this site), they have the malats piece too .
I think pick or not isnt important for this type of music since its not very hard on the right hand for someone used to flamenco. Good flamencos can play this with one or two fingers disabled
However Todd nice left hand. Very clear and beautiful tone, sounds like a professional classical recording to me most of the time. And also nice dress change in between!
That was very nice Todd. "Maple = Sweet" 'eh? I've heard that it fails in comparrison with good 'ole cypress - what do you think? I like the Scottish Choro, but my fave choro is the Mazurka. As long as everyone else is offering their request, here's mine: Sakura Variations. Thanks for sharing the video.
I was also wondering if the video and audio were captured on the same take?
That Lauro piece is a bitch, isn't it! You make it look too easy. Loved the Scarlatti - I think the clarity you can achieve with the pick on baroque rep. is a real plus.
Guitar sounds nice, though I'm sure it would all sound just as good on your Yamaha.
Amazing that someone can play like that without any classical training.
ORIGINAL: sorin popovici improper to say concert cause he is alone in smth like a cathedral,I remember now that he plays the Scarlatti u play
Hi,
i have the same video, where Williams plays Scarlatti K213. I must say that Todds version has much more feeling in it. I didnt dislike Williams's playing but its no comparision to this version imo.
That is one heavy compliment. But you must be joking or have a deaf ear. To compare Todd's playing of Scarlatti to John Williams is so off, Todd is an excellent player but he was not even phraseing- you know- bringing it to life, and his tone was not very good nor was his rythym. This thing about John Williams playing without feeling is so unoriginal come up with something original. I wish people would stop echoing what they hear other people say and come up with an original opinion. I apologise for being so harsh. And I mean no disrespect to Todd or Phrygus I would love to hear Todd's response to this posting, I believe he would echo my sentiment, both on his playing of Scarlatti and this continual **** critic of JW's playing without feeling
Hm, Rain, youre mixing up too much and interpreted things into my post that was not my intention... obviously you have made negative experiences with peoples opinions about JWs playing.
First off, usually i like JWs playing. No really! My former guitar teacher also complained that JW SOMETIMES, not all, plays "unemotional". There are pieces on which i would agree to this these and some on which i would highly disagree! So im not one of these people who categorical blame JW as unemotional.
And i did not wrote that i dislike the JW version, hope you red that. JW is a god, no doubt!
But the most important: We are talking about only 1min playing or so. Further i have a bad version regarding the sound quality; acctually its a video as i mentioned. It may be that you have a brilliant version, i dont know.
I would propose that you take the discussion on JWs playing not too serious. How are you going to proove that its original or emotional whatever? Sry, but claiming this opinion "****", doesn help either...
And besides, this has nothing to do with Todds opinion on his own playing. The evalutation of ones playing is always made by the audience and by each single one. In addition to that the player is not a very good instance for evaluating his own playing. Theres an idiom in german that goes like "Ones own cooking always tastes good"
You, and everybody here, is of course entitled to their opinion. The "you must be deaf" crack, well, that's pretty offensive, you must admit. Put yourself in my shoes. I practice my butt off, and i can play that piece just as well as JW, or anybody. The issue is interpretation. And the opinion thereof.
As for my tone, ive had hundreds of responders to this video that claim my tone is beautiful. Doesnt mean you're wrong. Just means that "Beauty is in the ear of the beholder".
I also feel JW"s playing lacks feeling. This is based on my expierience of listening to him play. Not on what ive heard other people say. But so what?? What does that change?? It changes nothing. It hurts nobody. You can go on enjoying JW"s albums just as you always have. And i will go on listening to my Bream records. We all live happily ever after..
People accusing JW of a lack of heart, has been going on for a very long time. This gets blown up into some pretty big arguments on certain forums i visit. But i dont personally read much into it. It boils down to personal preference. You cant sit somebody down, and "force" them to hear things Your way. One person hears him, and they dont get it. Like me or Phrygus. Another person hears the same, and they totally get it.
What is beautiful to one person, may not be to another. This is music. Its art. There is no Good or Bad. Correct or Incorrect.
You say i do NOT bring the piece to life. Phrygus says i do. Niether of you are right or wrong.
I happen to think JW couldnt touch my Scottish Choro with a ten foot pole. Again, just my opinion. :)
This is getting good ... a little controversy is what I like .I feel like I know who is someone upon reacting of more critical situation.Todd is behaving properly ,so I'm glad to think that he is who I thought he would be. Personally , I didnt listened a lot of JW,cause I dont buy that many records.But I remember one night after a long practice on leyenda ....listening to his.He is that of a monster that I cant believe it ,I really realized that after playing for 5 years or so at that time.Now he worked very much, I have no problem in giving him the credit .I know I worked on that piece very very hard ,and still nothing as the technical perfection that he deliveres.Now ...I dont want to discuss about "soul playing" ,to me that's smth that adds things and make them beautiful ...but it's surely an ornament.He deliveres....u cant deny that.If u want to judge his soul than maybe u should be in the business or rescueing souls.I've read some interviews and I can guess,that the man had to do some sacrifice for standing now where he is.I understand him a little for that ,and I can not deny him my apreciation ...or even my love for standing straight and continuing to do what he felt was right(segovia probably is a case to admire also for determination and love for guitar too).
Back to the subject I think Todd loves to play the guitar and he is now where he is because of his work but also for his love for the instrument.I am a little jealous on his playing,but I think he is that good also because of his superior(i have to say again that word ...this is getting cheesy) love for guitar. I know that if I will love her more (the guitar), I could get comparable to his playing on the guitar,but until then since I love it less than him my catastrophy (to be a much weaker player) seems not that harsh ...cause he is that of a good player and he is not recognized like he should be (I have a romanian player in my country ,that gets all the interviews ...and he is not very great).
In conclusion what I mean is that : to play that good u must give yourself away very much ,and I think (now) that good technique is not just show off but it's also a sign for a man's love for the guitar,because he took the time to practice properly ...because he did not take a break when everybody of us would have done it ...because of his sweat that could probably fill a lot of emptiness ,when we chose get used to our emptiness...because of many many things I discoveres while trying to be a better guitarist (unfortunately I still do things amateurishly).
So ....how come a man with great techinque can have no feeling ,cause his very own technique is a sign for his feeling?
That clears JW ,I hope :D.
As for Todd , I cant imagine the hell he must have been through to play guitar in an unorthodox way (for classical playing I mean (I dont want to upset Todd,I can guess that he doesnt want this to be taken up front every time "wow he plays with a pick")),but that hell is a measure of his (again ...I think I'm turning gay ) love.So I cant judge him for he is just more than I am now .To me JW ,Todd and other players get their own category " people to aspire to" and that's all.I sincerely hope that Todd will be famous some day so I could get to say that I knew that man (and also maybe to get some free tickets :D). I hope that clears Todd.I said too much and I apologize,to concentrate all I have said and to show my apreciation I would have to tell you what I first said when I first listened to Todd(a couple of years ago,I happen to listen a couple of his falsetas with a friend) .. I've said to my friend then "this is the real thing, man !".
So keep them coming Todd,cause my friend now is studying music at a local conservatory (he is into jazz ) ,he plays guitar ...and when I meet him ,he is always curious about some new videos :D....he cant really believe what he sees (he also plays with a pick,but also tried to play fingerstyle ,and now thanks to you he is trying to do both.. like you).
First, I would like to offer my sincere apology to Todd and Phrygus.
My main objection was the statement made by Phrygus, where he said Todds Scarlatti sounded better than JW's and had more feeling. I still strongly disagree to that. I would like to add that I'm not the biggest John Williams fan on this planet, like Todd I would rather listen to Julian Bream anyday, in fact I'm listening to him now.
Todd, I know you practice very hard, I could hear it in your Flamenco playing. And mechanically in your Classical playing. Your hybrid picking, although very impressive, I just dont get. Unless its for picado runs, which with a pick it would be easier to play fast. You have very good technic.
What is beautiful to one person, may not be to another. This is music. Its art. There is no Good or Bad. Correct or Incorrect.
Todd, you made the above statement,and I agree with it to a certain degree. There is a correct way and an incorrect way to playing the guitar, try playing a bulerias as a choro. Good and Bad, if you dont know what bad is then how did you get to play so good Todd.
Look, when I play a few compases of soleares, my non guitar playing friends think I'm brilliant. Because they don't know any better. Now, when it comes to playing flamenco, which I've been trying to learn for less than a year, I could honestly say that I suck, and you would agree, but my neighbor may not. But I would definately agree with you. See where I'm going with this. Well here it comes. All those people who gave you positve comments, showered you with flowers mate-------What do they know about CLASSICAL GUITAR, and what good tone is. Nonetheless consistant TONE. There is no way to play classical music with all its contapuntal lines, and have each line come out to a high standard with a pick and fingers, and you will never prove me wrong.
I happen to think JW couldnt touch my Scottish Choro with a ten foot pole. Again, just my opinion. :) I never heard JW play Villa-Lobos's Scottish Choro, what record is it on. If you cant play it better than JW or Bream(I love the way he plays Villa-Lobos) better yet, if you don't think it can be played better, your words by the way, than why play it. If you have nothing to say with the music, then dont play it-----unless that is you are egotistical, and want people to go wow. Or you just love to play the music but you don't see it as art. Do not get me wrong man, I understand what your saying with the ten foot pole bit, at least I hope that I do.
You seem to be a very cool person, and definately a talented one. But don't shoot me down because I'm giving you my honest opinion abot the classical pieces. I would respect your opinion on flamenco anyday.
Hey by the way what do you think about Manuel Bellido's flamenco guitars
I don't think any comparision between guitar players makes sence from the point of view of taking them as values of which is better than the other... it's pointless and stupid because everyone has a different perception and tastes. Also I don't think it's apropiate to say that a tone it's better than other, there's no logic in that, what might be good to someone can be crap to others...the really good tone if you are a musician is the one that's inside your head and how you really want your instrument to sound like. In the end I think one should say and stay limited to his very own ears and give only an opinion of his perception to others, and regarding guitar players having good taste. I respect very highly JW, JB, Segovia, E Fernandez and many other well know guitarist for all they have given to the guitar world, besides being talented I'm sure they have done their very best, but I hate saying that to my own ears almost all of them sound pretty outdated and I know several players that sound better to me, it's very obvious from the evolution point of view, I can hear that in flamenco with ramon montoya-Sabicas-PDL...etc I think respect is given to the first person to do something, like a revolution, but that doesn't mean they will be the best forever, in my very own personal opinion.
Todd, I love it man... There is not an ounce in shame in believing your interpretations have more righteous qualities than John Williams'. I love your confidence, and I happen to agree with everything you say. You are a king.
You can make me cry with your sweet touch and full complex tone, and timing, space etc... It is torturous for people to be dissatisfied with what they do if they indeed are, like the ever modest Paco de Lucia. That is why I am so glad you're completely aware of your extraordinary talents. And most of us know that you do not let it go to your head, and that is a beautiful thing.
Rain, i dont want to talk this for years, but i have to mention at least the most emergent things.
The main thing which "you dont get" as Todd said is that you really seem to think music and its quality would be "measureable" or somthing. Of course there is a way to play something correct or incorrect, but even this is so superficual that it does not says anything about quality.
Yet the point WE was discussing was which piece has more feeling. This is sooo subjective man! How can you dare to have the one and only valid opinion? In you post you apologize and two lines further you say something like, people who dont know much on classical guitar do not have the right to evaluate it.
Dude, im sorry to say that but your view is so arrogant and ridiculous. If musicans would share your opinion they would never give a concert to a regular audience, which does NOT know this music theory stuff usually. Dont get me wrong, music theory is good for learning a piece/an instrument, but when it comes to evaluation of music, you should trust your EAR and your brain!
Ps: notice that the tone of JWs video and Todds are very different. Todds tone has less bass and "clearer" trebles, whereas JW plays with a much more "classical tone", which i would describe as a wide (regarding the freq.) and not so clear tone that makes it "warm" in my eyes/ears. This is also a point which can not be discussed because its a matter of preference, which tone is more pleasant. It also differs from piece to piece actually. In this case i like the playing/accentuation as well as the tone in Todds video much more than in JWs.