Every weekday at 10:30am I play what I call a “guitar pick.” It’s a work featuring the guitar. It can be as a solo instrument, in a chamber setting or with orchestra. Thursday's pick was by the Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. Rodrigo lost his eyesight due to illness when he was three years old. He began learning music and instruments (piano and violin) when he was eight. He composed mostly for piano, but a work he wrote for guitar and orchestra in 1939, Concierto de Aranjuez, with its famous 2nd movement was to establish him in the public eye as a composer for the guitar. That work's sucess led to other commissions for guitar - or guitars - with orchestra. Concierto Malaga is influenced by the sounds of flamenco music. Rodrigo's work with the Romeros would continue including works for 2- and 4 guitars with orchestra.
Manuel de Falla - Miller's Dance - Eduardo Fernandez, guitar
Anonymous - Romance - William Gomez, guitar
Joaquin Rodrigo - Conceirto Malaga - Pepe Romero, guitar
Manuel Ponce - 3 Popular Mexican Songs - Adam Holman, guitar
My ukulele pick is a Song for Everybody by my friend - a Nashville-base songwriter - named Matt Lindahl.