Hey!

In this issue’s YouTube Find of the Week section, we watched a wonderful interpretation of Sonata III by Manuel M. Ponce. Additionally, there is sheet music by Eric Trejo y Santiago available for download. The Album of the Week this time is something truly special. Not Sor, not Coste, not Giuliani, but Justin Holland. Ever heard of him in the context of the 19th century? Also, we had the pleasure of speaking with two fantastic guitar makers in our Know How short interview. Lastly, "Guitar and..." Cello! A combination that sounds simply amazing, and for which Victor Santana has arranged an orchestral piece by his fellow Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Have a good read!
Stefan & Willi

YOUTUBE FIND OF THE WEEK
Jesse Flowers plays Sonate lll by Manuel Maria Ponce

The Sonata III by Manuel M. Ponce is a composition filled with so many beautiful moments. This begins right from the first movement (Allegro Moderato) with the opening theme. The first bars sound lyrical, like a reminiscence of a warm summer day, and despite the underlying melancholy, the bass lines add a dramatic flair.

Jesse Flowers captivates us from the very first second and takes us through the sonata clearly, elegantly, and comprehensively, so that we're never tempted to break away from this spell. What we love about the video is that only the musician is subtly illuminated, with black silence reigning in the background. Thus, the focus stays on what’s essential. Musically, the moments where the larger waves ebb away are our special highlights. Such as in the middle of the second movement (Chanson), or also repeatedly in the final movement, when the harmonically embedded flageolets replace the slightly more agitated lines alongside tremolo passages. This interpretation is like a single musical flow. Definitely worth watching! We, for one, are deeply moved.

SHEET MUSIC
Eric Trejo y Santiago – Intermezzo I

For today's issue, Eric Trejo has sent us what we consider to be a perfectly fitting piece. His composition is titled "Intermezzo I," making it a great match for our newsletter: an entertaining piece of music for in-between moments. It does require a little bit of practice, though. Equipped with a solid bass groove and minimalist melody, the Intermezzo has a floaty, harmonious flow. We had a lot of fun checking it out and found that there's plenty of freedom for interpretation. You can experiment a lot here and enjoy many possible versions.

Eric Trejo himself is also quite diverse. With his Mexican roots, he dedicates himself to the folk music of his homeland, arranging and composing in that style for his guitar duo "Aleph Duo" or collaborating with Chilean guitarist Rodrigo Santa María. Inspired also by his extensive experience in Berlin's New Music and Free Jazz scenes, he continuously finds new compositional paths to give tradition a future.

More about Erics work via www.erictrejo.com

ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Christopher Mallet - JUSTIN HOLLAND – GUITAR WORKS AND ARRANGEMENTS (rediscovered) (2023)

Justin Holland? Ever heard that name associated with classical guitar? We hadn't either, which is surprising considering he was one of the most influential guitarists in North America during the 19th century. What sticks out in the historical context is that he was African American. Therefore, Christopher Mallet's recording, "Justin Holland: Guitar Works & Arrangements," is much more than yet another interpretation of previous recordings of your classical household names. Rather, it’s an exciting journey of discovery into the cosmos of someone seemingly forgotten. Though you may feel a familiar sense in both sound and composition, the pieces feel fresh and new!

Perhaps some of you would like to take this album as an inspiration to delve into Holland's musical world. Highly recommended!

Listen on your favorite platform.

KNOW-HOW 
Friederike Linscheid and Adrian Heinzelmann about building guitars

In the following interview, the two guitar builders Friederike Linscheid and Adrian Heinzelmann from Berlin give us a glimpse into their work. They have by now firmly established themselves in the (inter)national scene, which is why the strong demand for their guitars is not surprising. And entirely justified, in our opinion!

Which step of your work do you enjoy the most?

Friederike: I enjoy all the steps where I can shape and design: carving the neck base, working on the details of my modern rosette and headstock. It's the subtle differences in these details that give the instruments personality.

Adrian: I find wrapping the edges particularly fulfilling because it strikes a good balance between challenge and routine.

What wood do you prefer to work with, and what are the tonal differences?

Friederike: It's not an easy question to answer. I enjoy working with spruce because I love its radiant appearance. But the final sound of the instrument ultimately depends on the player. Generally speaking, guitars with spruce tops are a bit brighter and more transparent with slightly more depth in color while guitars with cedar tops have a richer and warmer sound. The difference in tonal qualities is even harder to pinpoint when it comes to back and ribs. I like working with maple, which always adds something special, but I also enjoy using rosewood.

Adrian: I enjoy working with Indian rosewood because it's easy to work with and has beautiful colors. But I've also built some very nice guitars with Madagascar back and sides. My preference for the top material also depends heavily on the player.

Which instrument has traveled the farthest to reach its buyer?

Friederike: One of my early customers took a guitar to Taiwan. I think that was the farthest journey.

Adrian: Lately, I've had some orders from very distant countries. For example, I recently sent a guitar to Singapore. 

Do you have a funny/interesting anecdote about an instrument?

Friederike/Adrian: Last fall, we attended a guitar conference in Toulouse where we met some French guitar students. Two of them really wanted to buy the guitars, but they were intended for Siccas, the guitar dealer. Upon our return, we delivered the instruments to Siccas, and they were sold in an instant. A few days later, those students sent us photos of themselves, each with their new guitar. They had simply bought the guitars from Siccas. Shortly after that, the student who bought Adrian's guitar even won a competition with it and wrote to him that his colleagues had complained to him saying the guitar was a "cheat."

More about Friederike and Adrian and their instruments:

Friederike Linscheid on Instagram: www.instagram.com/friederike_linscheid_guitars?

Homepage: www.gitarrenbau-linscheid.de

Adrian Heinzelmann on Instagram: www.instagram.com/adrianheinzelmann?

Homepage: www.adrianheinzelmann.de

GUITAR AND…
Victor Santana & Emilia Lomakova play Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2

Many guitarists are familiar with Heitor Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 and may have even performed them themselves. The Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2, while perhaps slightly less well-known, are no less beautiful. Originally composed for orchestra, this arrangement draws on the piano and cello edition as its base and source of inspiration. Emilia Lomakova (cello) and Victor Santana (guitar, arrangement) enchant us with their finely-tuned ensemble interplay and a very balanced sound. Even though you might initially think that some of the colors of the orchestral version are difficult to imitate, this intimate version of the piece leaves nothing to be desired. The video perspective is also intriguing, making the performers appear as if on a side stage. This effect, set in an empty hall without any special accessories or the like, enhances the intimate character of the performance. Check it out, get drawn in!

OUTRO

We hope this edition has given you some inspiration for the next two weeks. We've gained many new insights into the diverse world of the guitar, and once more, we've noticed how many fantastic musicians there are in the scene and how much there is to rediscover. We always appreciate your suggestions, so feel free to drop us a message if you've made an exciting new discovery.

See you in two weeks.

Warm wishes,
Stefan & Willi

New Classical Guitar is a newsletter by Willi Leinen and Stefan Degel from TMBM. You can find our music and more information about our journey at t-m-b-m.com/.

On Spotify, we curate a playlist with our favorite pieces. Feel free to follow our New Classical Guitar Playlist at open.spotify.com/playlist/3ZwxJRAsW9Zs2JiS2eLy6a?si=9b2a737f01c043a4 and recommend new additions.