With great expectations since I first received the score in early spring, I looked forward to the second performance of Robert Beaser‘s Chaconne. It’s a new work that I had studied and played in a large guitar orchestra for its premiere in April 2018. This time, Robert Bekkers, the conductor of our Boston Guitar Orchestra, played it with eight other musicians. Knowing that the nine guitarists rehearsed nearly every day of the Boston Guitar Festival confirmed my earlier belief that it was not an easy piece at all.
I’ve long wanted to write about the experience of sitting in the second row and watching the eight classical guitarists and one electric bass guitarist (formed in a semi-circle) performing this formidable piece. For me, the best part was the opening — when the theme of the chaconne is introduced, so beautiful that you just want to linger and bathe in its beauty. Needless to say, it’s a piece I’d like to hear more than once. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture the very beginning on my videos. Thus, I dearly look forward to the official video recording when it becomes available.
From left:
- Guitar 1: Jerome Mouffe, Scott Borg
- Guitar 2: Adam Levin, Ceili Connors
- Guitar 3: Jim Davidson, Robert Bekkers
- Guitar 4: Charles Ewing, Daniel Acsadi
- Electric bass: Jack Schwenke
beginning:
a bit later:
ending:
Excellent performance! Thank you for catching and sharing these snippets!