Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program [sorry, only three guitars live] featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.


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Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars

Deep Autumn is a work based on my song cycle the Great Deep. Originally for English horn and guitar - finished Oct 31, 2009, and written for Richard Kravchak and Scott Morris, both professors at UC Dominguez Hills, I have since arranged the piece for viola and ten-string and a new version for cello. The first movement is original for this project, the five other sections are arrangements of songs from The Great Deep [also available on Gyre]. Most have ornamentation and chords added and along with rhythm changes. The last has extensive additions. Purchase edition at <a href="http//:www.gyremusic.com">Gyremusic</a> at the Buy link.

Deep Autumn-Music when soft voices die

Arranged and played by Frank Wallace on a c. 1860 Manuel Soto y Solares guitar from Sevilla, this track is on The Romantic Guitar EP and will be part of Four Great Spanish Guitars, a CD to be released next spring on Gyre.

Erste verlust, R. Schumann [arr. Wallace] played on Manuel Soto y Solares, c. 1855 
Fandango, Aguado played on Manuel Gutierrez, 1854
Omaggio, de Falla played on Manuel Ramirez, c. 1910
Suite in B minor, Frank A. Wallace played on Ignacio Fleta, 1964

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Erste Verlust by Robert Schumann

Played by Frank Wallace on a 1854 Manuel Gutierrez guitar from Sevilla. 

Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program (sorry, only three guitars live) featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.

Other tracks on the album will include:
Erste Verlust, Robert Schumann [arr. Wallace] played on Manuel Soto y Solares, c. 1855 
Omaggio, Manuel de Falla played on Manuel Ramirez, c. 1910
Suite in B minor, Frank A. Wallace played on Ignacio Fleta, 1964

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Fandango | Dionisio Aguado | Manuel Gutierrez

Gargoyles | Mare Duo and friends play Frank Wallace
GYRE 10202 | UPC 802442102027

Download Complete Notes: Gargoyles CD Notes
Recorded: August 2012 at the Wuppertal Conservatory of Music, Germany; Night Owl September 2013 at the Hillsborough Center Congregational Church, NH; and White Albatross December 2013 at Klangport Musikproduktion in Heek, Germany
Released: May 15, 2014
Duration: 63:19
Microphones: Schoepps omnis and Neumann U87 through an Orpheus interface
Engineering and mastering: Frank Wallace, except White Albatross recorded by Matthias Reuland
Photographs, artwork and design: Nancy Knowles

All Frank Wallace compositions are ASCAP; All rights reserved; copyright ©2014 Gyre Music

01) Gargoyles (2012) 7:32
for 2 mandolins and guitar, op. 68
Annika Hinsche, mandolin I; Fabian Hinsche, guitar; Anne Wolf, mandolin II

02) Nocturne (2010) 6:23
for mandolin orchestra, op. 62
Annika Hinsche, mandolin I; Fabian Hinsche, guitar; Kristina Lisner, mandola; Melanie Hunger, mandolin II; Thomas Kolarczyk, contra bass

The Coming of Arthur (2009)
for mandolin and guitar , op. 53
Annika Hinsche, mandolin; Fabian Hinsche, guitar
03) Chaos in the Land of Cameliard, 12:47
04) Arthur on the Flaming Wave, 3:52
05) With a Wink his Dream was Changed, 6:28

06) White Albatross (2013) 7:47
for guitar solo, op. 79

07-8) Night Owl (2012) 8:48
for mandolin solo, op. 73
Annika Hinsche, mandolin

New England Quartets (2010)
for mandolin orchestra in five parts; or quartet without bass, op. 60c
Annika Hinsche, mandolin I; Fabian Hinsche, guitar; Kristina Lisner, mandola; Melanie Hunger, mandolin II
09) North Branch 2:59
10) Lovern Mill 1:48
11) Monadnock 4:55

TOTAL TIME: 63:19

Gargoyles

Manuel Velasquez, born 2/20/1917 passed away April 3 this year. He will be greatly missed. Manuel is known as America's first great guitar builder who worked in New York, his native Puerto Rico and later in life in Florida with his son Alfredo.  This guitar from 1958 was restored by the maestro himself in the late 90's.  He told me, "It will be like a new guitar built with old wood." And that it is, featuring perfectly quartered Brazilian, gorgeous straight grain spruce top and a silky oil varnish, and most importantly a rich warm tone all the way up to the incredible high B! [1:13]

Black Falcon was written by myself in early 2013 for the Cuban guitar virtuoso Edel Muñoz.  It is featured on my album Elemental played on a 1931 Hauser.  Please download this MP3 for free or purchase a 24-bit FLAC file at www.gyremusic.com

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Manuel Velasquez, 1958 - Black Falcon

Played by Frank Wallace on a c. 1855 Manuel Soto y Solares guitar from Sevilla.

Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program (sorry, only three guitars live) featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.

Other tracks on the album will include:
Fandango, Dionisio Aguado played on Manuel Gutierrez, 1854
Omaggio, Manuel de Falla played on Manuel Ramirez, c. 1910
Suite in B minor, Frank A. Wallace played on Ignacio Fleta, 1964

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Erste Verlust | Schumann | Soto y Solares

Played by Frank Wallace on a c. 1910 Manuel Ramirez guitar from Madrid.

Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program (sorry, only three guitars live) featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.

Other tracks on the album will include:
Erste Verlust, Robert Schumann [arr. Wallace] played on Manuel Soto y Solares, c. 1855
Suite in B minor, Frank A. Wallace played on Ignacio Fleta, 1964

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Omaggio | de Falla | Manuel Ramirez

Played by Frank Wallace on a c. 1910 Manuel Ramirez guitar from Madrid.

Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program (sorry, only three guitars live) featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.

Other tracks on the album will include:
Erste Verlust, Robert Schumann [arr. Wallace] played on Manuel Soto y Solares, c. 1855
Omaggio, Manuel de Falla played on Manuel Ramirez, c. 1910
Suite in B minor, Frank A. Wallace played on Ignacio Fleta, 1964

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Capricho Arabe | Tárrega | Manuel Ramirez

Played by Frank Wallace on a 1964 Ignacio Fleta guitar from Barcelona.

Four Extraordinary Spanish Guitars is both a new recording coming from Frank Wallace and a concert program (sorry, only three guitars live) featuring works by Sor, Aguado, Tárrega, de Falla, Turina and Mompou. It is rare to hear such a powerful and refined performer playing on such instruments he knows so well. Wallace has recorded with all three instruments over the past 20 years and now offers this special program featuring guitars by Manuel Gutierrez, Sevilla, 1854; Manuel Ramirez, Madrid, c. 1910; Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1964.

Other tracks on the album will include:
Erste Verlust, Robert Schumann [arr. Wallace] played on Manuel Soto y Solares, c. 1855
Omaggio, Manuel de Falla played on Manuel Ramirez, c. 1910

Performances by Frank A. Wallace

Suite in B minor | Wallace | Ignacio Fleta

String Songs are arrangements of seven songs I wrote between 1996 and 2007. The first being my first ever and the second a song inspired by a poem of Wendy Holmes, lifelong friend of my wife, and fabulous artist/photographer. The next five songs are all from a 2006 composition entitled Syzygy which is a song-cycle on poetry written by my wife, Nancy Knowles. The treatment of each song varies to create a constantly changing texture throughout the 23 minutes of the work.

1. Song without words quintet
2. Advice trio
3. Watershed at Brewbakers duo
4. Architecture quintet
5. Caramelo quartet
6. Remembered wellness quintet
7. Orbs in syzygy quintet

The quintets use the full resources of the ensemble and are the most lavishly adorned with polyphonic lines, textural octaves, enhancements to the guitar accompaniments, etc. Advice, the only trio, is virtually identical to the original piece for guitar with soprano and baritone voices. [There is also an arrangement for piano and oboe and bassoon.] Next we have a duet between violin and guitar, a jazzy number with strumming of chords and an elaborated vocal/violin line with two-part polyphony at times and melodic flourishes at others. The rest are full ensemble except the cello is tacet in #5, in which the strings are muted in this peaceful setting.

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String Songs - 7) Orbs In Syzygy

String Songs - 5) Caramelo

String Songs - 4) Architecture

String Songs - 3) Watershed At Brewbakers

String Songs - 2) Advice

String Songs - 1) Song Without Words

Deep Autumn is a lyrical work for English horn and guitar – wiating for a live recording, I have just re-worked the midi rendition, which gets better all the time.  It was completed Oct 31, 2009 – written for Richard Kravchak and Scott Morris, both professors at UC Dominguez Hills. It has since been arranged for viola and cello. The first movement is original for this project, the five other sections are arrangements of songs from The Great Deep [also available on Gyre]. 

Deep Autumn 4 | Music, When Soft Voices Die

Dedicated to: Alan and Heather Johnston
Written: Dec., 2011
Duration: 8 minutes; 11 pages
Difficulty level: Advanced, but not virtuosic
Instrumentation: piano and guitar 

ABOUT
Fraktured is dedicated to all of us who have suffered a fracture from our normal lives: physical or mental illness, a sudden loss, a loved one who disappears for a short time or forever, the loss of a job or a way of life, even the natural passing of parents or a beloved pet. We all pass through moments of torment, of not-knowing. We experience pain at times, and a monotonous dullness at other times. Fraktured passes through these emotions.

Fraktured, for piano and guitar

Track remastered and updated August 2019
This is a track I thought you might want to hear from an album by Trio LiveOak recorded in 1979.  Una Sañosa Porfia by Juan del Encina (John of the liveoak); performers are John Fleagle, Frank Wallace and Nancy Knowles.  John was a member of LiveOak from 1976 to 1983 and recorded three albums with us - we all studied with Marleen Montgomery.  The album was on Mnemosyne, a subsidiary of Titanic, and was recorded by Ralph Dopmeyer in the Groton School Chapel.

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Una Sañosa Porfia

My most recent recording for Aaron Green's http://www.vintageclassicalguitars.net – a most exquisite 1927 Francisco Simplicio.

Simplicio 1927 | Lagrima By Tarrega

Basel 1298 and Lindenberg 2017 are two short concert studies I wrote in Basel Switzerland in the spring of 2017. Played here on a 1974 Ignacio Fleta guitar that is for sale at Aaron Green's Vintage Classical Guitars. See this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kkfpqxqX8k. And be sue to explore more on the channel.

VCG videos

Two works from Fünf Kleine Stücke

This is another audio track of a video made for Vintage Classical Guitars, owned by Aaron Green. There has been an amazing run on Hauser guitars of all three male generations in the past two years or so through Aaron's shop. No Kathryn Hauser guitars yet. The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/cAYWWOe6Tc0

The Sweet Voice Sings is the first movement of my Sonata #2, The Timid Nightingale, published by Gyre Music. It is based on a tune associated with Bernart de Ventadorn's original troubadour lyrics and dedicated to the great American cellist Samuel Mayes. His son, Joseph Mayes, commissioned the work in 2017.

The Sweet Voice Sings

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Hauser III 2013 | The Sweet Voice Sings by Frank A. Wallace

Musingly, first variation of the Nocturnal, by Benjamin Britten; video recorded for Vintage Classical Guitars at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-h5GowqTHs

Musingly from Nocturnal

Musingly by Britten on a Romanillos 1986 guitar

Watch video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Cp3kkqczU. This series of recordings features vintage guitars for sale at Aaron Green's Vintage Classical Guitars.

Plany

Romanillos 1983 | Plany - Catalan Folksong by Miguel Llobet

This is the first recording of three out of ten new works for solo classical guitar called Friends. These were mostly written in August 2018 in gratitude for the help many friends have given me over the past year getting through some tough health issues. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-2BovgCMA4&feature=youtu.be

Nadene

Nadene - #7 from Friends by Frank A. Wallace

Meg - #6 from Friends by Frank A. Wallace

Bob - #9 from Friends by Frank A. Wallace

Schubert and Mertz

Der Leiermann

Schubert Der Leiermann | Frank Wallace baritone and guitar

Dake's Song by Frank A. Wallace
A short melodic piece of medium difficulty for classical guitar; a meditation on loss - one month after 9/11.

Womand of the Water

Dake's Song

For my beloved on Valentines Day 2019.  I did this recording about 15 years ago as a gift to my nephew and his new wife after I sang it at their wedding - then never edited it and put it together. Bum! So this is for Nancy as well as James and Maureen. it's a traditional folk song from the British Isles.

Maiden of the Dark Brown Hair

Maiden Of The Dark Brown Hair

This track is from the album Joy: Carols and Songs and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/frankwallace4

Joy to the World

Star in the East

A Shining

Cuando el Rey Nimrod

Medley: Noel Nouvelet, Master in This Hall, Amb un Viudo, Stella

Medley [cont.] On This Day, Carillon, Dawn of the Doves

O Holy Night

Venite a Laudare / Per Nadal Farem Gran Festa

A short melodic piece of medium difficulty dedicated to luthier Dake Traphagen to show off the beautiful tonal palette of La Pareja, his cypress and spruce classical guitar built for me in 1997. It was written one month after the terrible tragedy of 9/11.

This recording was made in August 2019 on a beautiful 1939 Hauser provided by Vintage Classical Guitars. The video will soon be on my playlist at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irATgTn3Kts&list=PLOOgzMKMm6sODfkLigBxzupdK_vAEzcvx

Hauser 1939 | Dake's Song By F. Wallace

Thanks to Vintage Classical Guitars for the use of this incredible guitar! Sketches I comprises thirty etudes of easy to moderate difficulty for solo guitar. Most are 1/2 to a full page long and are intended as evocative, colorful additions to a more rigorous collection of progressive exercises, etudes and pieces. They can be part of the pedagogy of very young players or they can be used as creative and stylistic variants for older or more advanced students.

Thumb Songs

Hauser 1939 | Thumb Songs by F. Wallace

Friends are those…

…who support, love, and stay by your side. Friends are those you have fun with, a great dinner, the movies, a ball game or a hike. Friends are not acquaintances on Facebook, in general, though I have made wonderful friends in far flung places through Facebook. Friends are sometimes a surprise, sometimes a disappointment. Friends don’t live on a TV show. Friends talk to you and hug you when you need – from close are far. Friends is twelve meditations for cello and guitar!
Writing Friends

I started Friends in December 2017 at the same time as Cyrcles, my Sonata # 3. One night, our young friends Aki (Akiko) and Ben came over for dinner. After they went home, I sat down to begin a short song for Aki, an inspirational young woman from Japan. It was tuneful, a little quirky, and featured a five note phrase in 5/8 derived from her full name – Akiko. But I was in the middle of a big project, and so didn’t have time to finish the piece.

I returned to Aki’s piece in early July. Soon other friends had their names on the top of a page of music. Ben appeared, and Nina, and Aaron. I realized these were people who dared to say a little extra. They called and wrote to see how I was doing after several surgeries and a bout with ocular melanoma – a rare form of eye cancer that has now metastasized throughout my body and threatens my life and my vision in one eye. I jotted down the names of others who had dared to share their souls with me and ended up with ten people. It’s not everyone who helped or sympathized, so don’t feel bad if you are not on the list!

This past winter of 2020 brought a revisit to the piece and I had the idea of adding a cello part. This was inspired by my dear friend Lisa de Lima who goes way beyond the call of duty frequently, and has for years, being one of our major supporters and dearest of friends. She has helped a young cellist now at Julliard who lost his mother in his teen years and Lisa stepped up for him. I first heard Nico Olarte-Hayes’ magnificent playing at a house concert in Cambridge. he has gone on to do great things at Julliard including conducting and commissioning new works form major composers.

At the same time, another friend from Montreal introduced me to someone special who he thought I would enjoy and could help – he is Alejandro Sardá who played in the Caracas Symphony until his cancer stole that ability away. And so Friends for cello was born and I have added two new pieces at the end.

I must put in a disclaimer: each musical work does not attempt to portray the individual. Lord, some of you might be very confused if that were the case. Some of the pieces are tuneful, but most are quirky and enigmatic, tiny composition exercises to keep me occupied and free of worry. They emerged directly from my soul with little interference from the head – contemplative, but emotional, spiritual meditations.

Freiends for cello

Friends for Cello

House of Bernarda Alba
I wrote Ovejita and Paca la Roseta to be performed with the entire play The House of Bernarda Alba at Emerson College in April of 2010. The music was commissioned by the College and the play's director and adapter Sunil Swaroop and his assistant Zac Baker-Salmon. It was my first music for a staged production. The full version of both pieces were not debuted until Duo LiveOak's performance at the 2010 St. Joseph Guitar Festival in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Ovejita, "The little lamb," is the only actual song from the play, sung by grandmother Maria Josefa who is considered senile, but truly she is the wise fool in Lorca's conception. She describes a haven on the beach where she and the lamb she carries, claiming to have given it birth, will find peace. Paca la Roseta is an incidental character, a lascivious young woman who is carried off on horseback, willing and bare-breasted, by the virile young men of the town. That being a stark contrast to the cloistered lives of Bernarda's five adult daughters.

Paca la Roseta

Frank Wallace sings, writes, publishes and records his own classical music.

Frank A. Wallace

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