A hard-hitting Flamenco guitar arrangement for Fandango de Huelva based on standard traditional themes. The Fandango de Huelva is a relatively fast and rhythmically strict Fandango compared to Fandangos from other regions in Andalusia (Granada, Ronda, M�laga, Almer�a) that are often slower and without a steady rhythm (sans mesure). Rhythmically, Fandango de Huelva consists of a repetition of a six beat phrase, that Flamencos refer to as a comp�s, with accents on the third and fifth beats (1 2 3 4 5 6). This is notated in the score as a repeated sequence of 4/4 and 2/4 measures with the first beat of the comp�s falling on the third beat of the first 4/4 measure. The first accented beat in the comp�s falls on the first beat of the following 2/4 measure and the second accented beat falls on the first beat of the 4/4 measure following. This asymmetrical distribution of accents in the phrase gives the Fandango a kind of choppy almost stop-and-go flow. Note the number of holds that occur in the melodic passages. These are signs of a feature of the Fandango that is used much more in the slower versions where the singer or guitarist can vary the rhythmic flow at will. The melodic passages in the piece are based on traditional songs for Fandango de Huelva, much as Brahms? Hungarian Dances were based on traditional romani melodies from Hungary. The piece ends with a so-called Macho, a finale, in Verdiales, a fast Fandango rhythm from the region of Malaga. The Verdiales runs in standard 3/4 measures.I learned the Fandango de Huelva rhythm in my studies with Juan Gonz�lez ?Triguito? in Madrid in the late 1960?s. I gathered further rhythmic and melodic material working with other Flamenco guitarists and singers, especially in El Mes�n de la Guitarra just off the Plaza Mayor, during my years in Spain.The Fandango de Huelva is a fast and lively style (palo) of Flamenco with lots of good old-fashioned strumming (rasgueados) together with long continuous melodic passages. There is quite a bit of tapping on the face of guitar (golpes) in combination with the strumming and left hand legatos. Some passages are played with the thumb in alzap�a, meaning that the thumb strikes in triplets down, up, and down again in rapid sequence in combination with glopes. The alzap�a and tapping really add to the gitano-andalusian flavour of the piece. The last measures of the finale in abanico (fanning) rasqueado style are a powerful sendoff. Audiences have always enjoyed the positive spirit and energy that the Fandango de Huelva radiates.

�tudes for Solo Guitar
The subject of creating an educational aid for guitar students of an intermediate level that will serve also as a similar aid for theory and composition students fascinates me and motivates my compositional thought for quite a while. The objective was to create miniature complete works for the guitar, as J. S. Bach did with his fifteen inventions, in the ?manner? of an �tude that deals with specific aspects of guitar techniques and musicianship in general.


These �tudes are gradually graded based on their difficulty and style. They cover all the positions of the guitar and explore known and some unfamiliar techniques for the contemporary guitarist.
I used a compositional language more familiar for the level of the intermediate guitarist but without sacrificing my original compositional voice so these pieces could be used as concert works by the advanced musicians as well. My intention is to educate students in a multilevel study environment and to be able to promote the music of our time. During my teaching years I found that students become better musicians when they have been taught to adapt certain performance difficulties and compositional techniques at an earlier level of their training.
Titles:

1 with false optimism

2 with moderate sadness

3 with just the two of you

4 with a touch of impatience

5 with a touch of grandeur

6 with a counterpoint attitude

7 with a touch of shame

8 with a touch of boredom

9 going and never coming back

10 with a peaceful anger

11 without the heavy ones

12 without hope

13 without sense of humor

14 with a masculine attitude

15 with two little bears in mind

16 without hesitation

17 with shameless vibrato

18 with a touch of distress

19 without fear of failure

20 with this and that

21 with a kind motion

22 with a rondo attitude

23 with suspense

24 with everything you may have

An arrangement of traditional themes for the Flamenco style Siguiriyas for solo Flamenco guitar based on material I gathered in my studies in Flamenco guitar in Madrid in the late 1960s. I call the piece Llamas Negras (Black Flames) as the dance for Siguiriyas is often performed by a woman dancer (bailaora) dressed in a long flowing black dress, her hands twirling above her head likes flames. Such were the performances I witnessed at the Flamenco tablao La Zambra where my guitar maestro Juan Gonz�lez ?Triguito? played. Siguiriyas is the most tragic of all the serious (jondo) styles of Flamenco for guitar. The piece moves therefore at a moderately slow pace, although there are passages where the tempo increases for dramatic effect. The piece is in the Phrygian modal of D minor and notated in standard 6/8 time. Siguiriyas embodies par excellence what Manuel de Falla called the ?sonidos negros? or black sounds in Flamenco!