Concerts, practice, lute case

Practicing some nights like tonight til 5:00 am.  Just emailed a fellow local professor about playing a concert at his college in 3 weeks, a ridiculous request on short notice. 

Just getting enthusiastic about my program, wanting to really play it as much as possible before those last 2 important concerts.  

I feel the same enthusiasm I did when I was racing in track meets every weekend, maybe I'm biting off too much?   Nah...

I'm thinking about playing the same program for The Villages as I will for the Universities and taking my lute and 2 guitars.   I bought a lute case from the Czech republic, would have been under $500, but Trump's tariff's cost me an extra $78.   The case itself was $339 + $210 for shipping and tariffs.  

Hope my hand health holds up to more serious practicing.  

Back in the saddle - William Yelverton, concert guitarist and lutenist

Greetings, long time since I posted here but things are changing.  After somewhat of a hiatus, I'm back to being a concert guitarist.  On a half time sabbatical and it's been great.  Staying in super physical shape, eating pretty well, and playing all the time.  

This is the first official announcement of my concert season fast approaching.  Here is it is to date:

Sep 29 - Clarksville, TN - Austin Peay State University

Oct 5 - Franklin, TN - Columbia State Community College, Williamson Campus

Oct 10 - Sumter Co., FL. - Odell Community Center, The Villages

Oct 19 - Sewanee, TN - All Saints Chapel, University of the South

Oct 20 - Murfreesboro, TN - MTSU

The big one for me is at All Saints.  It's a magnificent cathedral in a very arts loving community, and likely my largest audience, and personally most import to me as it's my home community.   This concert really is far overdue.  It may very well be the first faculty guitar recital in that space in the 150+ yr history of the University.  

I've planned a really colorful concert and at my home concerts, I will be using all 4 instruments in the above photo.  The LK Brown "Hans Frei" 8 course Renaissance Lute, the standard Traphagen Spruce (face up), the Ruck cedar (on right) tuned to G, and the Zeb Turrentine lattice spruce (left) in "Turkish tuning".    When I travel I'll take just 3 instrument and retune the Trap in the "Turkish tuning".   

I'm playing a sizable lute set with 7 dances, 2 by Dalza to start then the rest Elizabethan ... Dowland and ending with Monsier's Amaine, the big piece of the set.  Could take 15.  

I decided just in the last few days to use the Ruck tuned to G for the Rameau variations, which I have not performed in 15 yrs.  It's going pretty well.  Why in G?  Guess what, that was the pitch of Rameau's harpsichord.  It is well documented that French Baroque harpischordists played in A=392.  Down a whole step.  Written in A, sounds in G.   Perfect.

I'll be playing the Trap for the Spanish rep and the fingerstyle stuff, then end with the movt's 1,2,4 of Koyunbaba.  I think it works better than playing that long droning 3rd mov't.  

I've also volunteered to play at local churches and the local private school.  I'm putting in at least 4 hrs practice a day, and it's going pretty well.  

 

Fall concerts...

My fall concert season went very well...

My program included the new Handel Suite, 4 Brazilian cafe pieces (including Brasileririnho, my new transcription), Mallorca by Albeniz, and some American fingersyle pieces including 2 Jerry Reed pieces... (Drive In, Jerry's Breakdown).   After hearing Yo-yo Ma and Paco D'Rivera play Brasileririnho, I had to find a way to play it, and I did!  The piece ended my first half.  I also played some old stuff ... my lute set, a flamenco piece, Delta, Bluetude, and Frevo.

In addition to my guest artist concerts at Mississippi State University and Wofford College, I also did a lot of public service events.   These included numerous classes at MTSU - including a 150 member intor to music class, a church service at Otey Chapel in Sewanee, a concert for Adams Place retirement community, and 2 school performances - Centennial High School in Franklin, and Evergreen Charter School in Asheville, NC.   I absolutely love playing for kids and answering their questions, and listening to their stories!

Both college trips were awesome, long drives in the University car.   First, down to Mississippi St. on the Natchez Trace, and then to Spartanburg, SC through the mountains and Asheville, NC.   Wofford College's Leonard Auditorium was quite a grand venue and a decent crowd.  Happy to receive a standing ovation.   The Evergreen Charter School was so cool, a funky young faculty, everyone wore jeans and was comfortable, laid back, and cool.  The kids were polite and smart.  They were very nice and appreciative.  Thanks to Karen and the staff.

A nice fall tour.  Here are some photos...

Wofford College - Troubadour Series 

Wofford College - Leonard Auditorium

On the road through Asheville

Evergreen Charter School - 6th grade

Mississippi State University - after concert