Cardas is a folk dance played by Gypsies particularly in Eastern Europe. There are many dulcimer bands playing cardas there. It is a bit similar to flamenco, which is played by Gypsies of Southern Spain. I do not think that I have ever heard anybody play cardas as a classical guitar piece.That is why I wrote this music and I find guitar the perfect instrument for cardas. Please have a listen to me playing the piece on SoundCloud :)
https://soundcloud.com/user-994845767/cardas.

Three Preludes on Occitan Songs

The single download comprises of an Introduction with performers' notes, a score with TAB underneath (to aid with the DADGBD tuning) and a score with notes only.

In performance, the guitar is tuned DADGBD (with both strings 1 and 6 tuned to D).

Icomposed Three Preludes on Occitan Songsduring the years I spent living and working in South West France.
I hadthe pleasure of seeing Occitan bands performing at village festivals. The styleof music was coarse and rhythmic with lyrics telling timeless stories. I borrowed the mostsimple of melodic fragments and use them to create contemporary guitar workssuitable for concert performance.

The Cancion de Hialara translates as ?The Spinner?sSong?. In this, I have imitated the rustic drones of the hurdy-gurdies found inOccitan bands through the use of tremolo patterns.

Som Som is a lullaby. This melody isfamiliar to many cultures across Europe and beyond.

Lò NostreAse translatesas ?Our Donkey?. It is a comic song which tells of the antics of a stubbornrustic animal. Players should enjoy the hemiola rhythms where 3/4 is set again6/8.

For other solo compositions, arrangements, and teaching scores, see: www.danjonesguitarist.com.

This cancause some difficulty in reading. Also, to take advantage of the sonority ofthe instrument when tuned this way, the unusual playing positions and fingeringare critical. It is for these reasons that I have provided the score in justnotes but also with notes and tablature below.

Thankyou and I hope you enjoy Three Preludes on Occitan Songs.