What are some sets of Nylon-String music that "gig" well together

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joevidetto

Posts: 191
Joined: Jun. 15 2013

What are some sets of Nylon-String m...

Hi all,

One of my personal music challenges had been to stick with one form of music long enough to get good at it. I've jumped from pop music to rock to classical to fusion(e.g. trio, Dimeola) to flamenco (first heard Paco with Dimeola and was floored at how much more musical/brilliant Paco was then Al) - ahh, left bluegrass out lol. Well I'm recently retired and looking back at all the unfinished pursuits I had, focusing first on relearning the classical pieces I once put great effort in at learning - in parallel and next will be flamenco.

I'm trying to come up with a target list of nylon-string music that fits together nicely so that if I play out (restaurant or bar), it doesn't seem like I'm jumping from one style to the next, and creating a confusing, chaotic atmosphere, if you understand what I'm saying. Also - I want to draw from both to leverage those I have once worked on (shorten the learning curve) so I can have a long-enough set, and I think they can complement each other.

Of course I can just google - but I'm sure you guys can help me find answers more quickly and with better precision.

Limiting the repertoire to that which lends itself well to nylon-strings, if I were to pick one style of music for the entire night, the obvious choices are either:

1.) only Flamenco (for the entire night)

2.) only Classical (for the entire night)

Now mixing the two:
3.) a mix of Flamenco and Classical (throughout the night)
--> What might one include that would blend nicely ?

In terms of adding flamenco numbers to a classical set (and most of my music library is Paco), my first thought is the lighter more pop-oriented flamenco solos - Maleguenas and El Vito - the stuff on Recital de Guitarra - Serrana (with tempos sligthly slower if necessary and all fast picado passages simplified to make them humanly possible lol)
- maybe Guairas de Lucia ?

In terms of adding classical pieces to a flamenco set, I'm guessing there are a few flamenco-influence composers to choose from, though I'm only familiar with Albeniz and Granados - though I'm only familiar with Leyenda and Recueros de Alhambra.

Now there are probably other nylon string forms - bossa for instance, the french tangos (btw - what form are these in ?) but I don't think they would blend well.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2023 18:51:23

joevidetto

Posts: 191
Joined: Jun. 15 2013

RE: What are some sets of Nylon-Stri... (in reply to joevidetto)

I just realized I left out the free forms - taranta, granadinas, minera - certainly they would blend well - I realize other than Paco's early Taranta, I don't have any of these in my repertoire (wrong word - I mean pieces I have previously studied) - I always like the steady beat froms much better.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2023 18:56:17

Mark2

Posts: 1929
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco

RE: What are some sets of Nylon-Stri... (in reply to joevidetto)

I'd play the music you love the most and can best perform. Screw the public, the restaurant managers, the club owners. If you believe in what you are doing, and love the music, that will transmit.

And why would you want to obligate yourself to play stuff you really don't want to only to do a club/restaurant gig?

There are plenty of great tunes if you need to add variety or need to "play something they know" Learn the ones you like the most.

I'm no saint. I'd sell out if the price was right, and have in the past. I'd still play the freakin macarena every night if I'd written it and I was being paid thousands of dollars a gig. Otherwise, I'm playing what I want. Life is too short, especially if you are already retired from your day gig. You've got maybe 10-15 years to play the stuff you really want. Why waste any of that?

I'm close to retirement and have no plans to gig. I've done that since I was 16. Now I study music I love, to the exclusion of anything else. And if I do decide to do a gig, I'm playing exactly what I want to play, and what I can play best. Malaguena by L. and the other warhorses ain't making the set list anymore. I'm not trying to be Charo. You shouldn't either. Be Joe.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2023 21:07:05

joevidetto

Posts: 191
Joined: Jun. 15 2013

RE: What are some sets of Nylon-Stri... (in reply to Mark2)

That's actually great advice Mark. Still, I'm of the mindset that if I look for it, I can find music that I love that fits the criteria above....Surely going from an instrumental of Sweet Child to a bulerias is a little much...especially if you're hoping for a repeat crowd.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2023 21:12:09

Ricardo

Posts: 15142
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: What are some sets of Nylon-Stri... (in reply to joevidetto)

Nobody cares. That is the truth. Play what you play well, and leave it at that, even (yes) if it is sweet child, Hotel California, or buleria. People don’t know the difference until they do. Average joe (not YOU JOE!!!), can’t discern. If they recognize the melody great. If not, F them. Aranjuez is the intro for Spain by Corea. Play that. Lately I have been mixing in Piazolla Cafe 1930 on both rumba gigs and hardcore flamenco gigs. Again, NOBODY CARES…assuming you play well.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2023 15:46:41