THOMAS GOULD Live in Riga
Sinfonietta Riga

1-3. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 - Ludwig van Beethoven
	I. Allegro ma non troppo
	II. Larghetto
	III. Rondo (Allegro)

4. The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams  

Produced by Raphaël Mouterde
Executive producer Dave Stapleton

‘Live in Riga’ is the major new album from the celebrated 31 year old British violinist Thomas Gould.  Recorded live in concert with Sinfonietta Riga on April 11th 2014 at the Great Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, it confirms Gould’s enormous potential as one of the most inventive and colourful instrumentalists of his generation.  Gould is no ordinary classical musician but one of a new generation who refuse to be defined by a single genre.  He has developed impressive jazz credentials, but it is in this environment as soloist/director of classical repertoire where he really excels.  The Times recently described Gould as “intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation”.  Gould, however, is incomparably his own musician.  Bold and courageous enough to forge his own path and follow his singular vision, he steps outside the footsteps of the greats.

‘Live in Riga’ is a defining album for Gould, his first disc of a three-album deal with forward-thinking British jazz and classical record label Edition Classics.  Over the last decade he has been in demand as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and LA Phil New Music Group.  He is also much in demand as a leader/director, working with Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO2, but it’s when he brings these disciplines together that the magic happens.  As Gould explains, “It means that everyone plays in a more engaged way. There is a group commitment to making it work, so the process is much more collaborative than when working with conductor.”

Sinfonietta Riga is an orchestra with a story to tell.  Formed in 2006, their vision is as bold as Gould’s.  Equally happy to play in concert dress or T-shirts they are intent on building new audiences for the music while reaching for the highest artistic standards.  Their collaboration is a perfect match and a unique experience for both the orchestra and for Gould.  This live concert recording bears witness to this special musical symbiosis.

To release an album featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending is a bold decision.  As two cornerstones of the violin repertoire, there are plenty of performances to compare, but Gould’s versions demonstrate a brilliance of tone and colour that demands attention.  His flexibility and breadth of musical interests is fully evident.  Gould’s playing has the clarity you would expect from any major performer but radiates a freedom in its expression as though improvised with an immediate elegance and poise.

For Gould it’s all about achieving the right balance.  Whether it’s jazz or classical, written or improvised, as soloist or director, Gould is right in the eye of the storm.  If the dark clouds gathering in the wider music world imply that the days of the single-minded virtuoso are coming to an end; if to succeed in that brave new world we need to attract more diversity and brighter colours, then in Thomas Gould we may have found the lightning conductor to spark a new generation.


THOMAS GOULD Beethoven - Violin Concerto In D, Op.61 - II. Larghetto

a Francisco Tarrega classical guitar piece performed by Manuel Cabrera II titled "Paquito – Vals".

http://manuelcabreraii.com/

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Manuel Cabrera II obtained his Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in Manila, Philippines under the guidance of Prof. Ruben Reyes. He later studied with acclaimed Japanese guitarist Norioh Sato and received his Master of Music Degree in Guitar under a scholarship at the Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan. He has also performed at the master classes of David Leisner, David Russel, Kazufumi Matsunaga, Josep Enriquez, and Angelito Agcaoili.

As a student, Manuel won major competitions in the Philippines and all over Japan, including 1st prize at the 1999 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (Manila, Philippines); 1st prize at the “GITARA” Competition, University of the Philippines, Diliman; 1st prize at the 31st Nippon Guitar Competition Solo Category, Osaka Japan; 2nd prize at the Classical Guitar Competition, Tokyo, Japan; and 5th prize at the 49th Tokyo International Guitar Competition.

As a performer, he had been featured at the 2004 “Filipino Artists Series” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and at the “New Artists Concert” at Elisabeth University of Music, Hiroshima. He had also been featured as a Soloist with the University of the Philippines Chamber Orchestra and with the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra at the “Concert at the Park”, Rizal Park, Manila. He had as well performed at solo concerts in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka, Japan and was featured as a performer at the Guitarra 2010 International Guitar Festival. Earlier this year, he held his successful solo debut concert at The Esplanade, earning him positive reviews from critics.

Manuel is also a dedicated and accomplished pedagogue. He taught at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music from 2000 to 2007. He is now based in Singapore and is actively pursuing a career in performing and teaching. He was recently honored by television network ABS-CBN by featuring him and his achievements as an internationally recognized Filipino classical guitarist at the Global Pinoy (Global Filipino) segment of its cable channel, The Filipino Channel.


Paquito – Vals (Francisco Tarrega) | Manuel Cabrera II

Album SOUNDTRACKS FOR IDEAL MOVIES by Kostas Grigoreas
"Music for your imaginary movies" 
Buy at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kostasgrigoreas3
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Performed by HARRIS LAMBRAKIS (ney flute) & KOSTAS GRIGOREAS (classical guitar)

A CHILD'S FANTASY (2.Toy) by Kostas Grigoreas [H. Lambrakis (ney), K. Grigoreas (guitar)]

Guitar: F.Hiemenz
Part of a recording session, mostly in "prima vista" playing, to produce background music for a spoken therapeutic CD. 
recorded in puzzlepie studio Munich/Türkenfeld
'93
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Find more Études from Fernando Sor at :
http://soundcloud.com/fhgitarre/sets/fernando-sor-estudios-easy-to-medium/
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Etude in E minor (op.60 Nr 22) by Fernando Sor

A regal sounding piece written by Mauro Giuliani (a famous Italian guitar virtuoso)

Estudio No.23 in A minor ~ Giuliani

A famous little piece from "The Nutcracker", transcribed for guitar ~ Written by Russian composer ~ Tchaikovsky

Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy ~ Tchaikovsky

A warm and inviting little piece, written by Christoph Gluck. Great sunny vibe to it, it's a nice.... 
(key of A major)

Andante ~ C. Gluck

A fun & playful little piece written by Mauro Giuliani. Quite challenging, but none the less, perpetually enjoyable....

Op.48 No.14 Allegretto in E major ~ Giuliani

music : Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759)
guitars: F.Hiemenz & O.Kälberer

"just for fun"- recording during a rehearsal

Allemande and Gigue by G.F.Haendel (played by F.Hiemenz & O.Kaelberer)

An awesome piece that I fell in love with as soon as I heard it! This is just part of the overall piece, but it's a nice little stand alone with this arrangement. Will learn the rest in the near future.... : )

Sonate for Violin Allegro Bwv 1003 (petite arrangement)~ Bach

Nr. 12 from the "12 Etudes" by the brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos

guitar played by F.Hiemenz
recorded in puzzlepie studio Munich/Türkenfeld ('88)
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This recording was part of an unfinished studio project. Only a compact cassette (!) copy of the original studio tape remained from this.
Sound restauration and editing with WaveLab 7, 2012/13
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note : I uploaded the Etudes 11+12 already a year ago, but in a very bad soundqualitiy. 
Meanwhile my abilities in restauration of old tape material increased, so I decided not to use the "replace" function but to upload them again. 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Étude Nr.12 by H.Villa-Lobos

This page is dedicated exclusively to Classical guitar and the study of great composers. I am completely self-taught, and I am a novice at this style, so don't hate (And yes, I am left-handed). I greatly appreciate you listening, commenting & sharing this music. 
*** I turn some of these Classical pieces into Rock songs! *** 
Check out my Neo-Classical site ~
www.soundcloud.com/neoclassicalgm (Neo-Classical/Orchestral)
Instrumental Hard Rock ~
 www.soundcloud.com/instrumentalhardrock (Hard Rock/Metal)

Estudio No.23 in A minor ~ Giuliani

Classical Guitar Music