A piece that has touched the heartstrings of listeners worldwide, this piece has a fascinating origin. A library in Dresden, Germany had obtained some of Albinoni’s original manuscripts. During World War II, the library suffered heavy damage during Allied bombings. Fortunately, an Italian composer, a musicologist, discovered a manuscript fragment. His reconstruction of the piece on that fragment is what we know today as Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor.
Through the medium of film and television, its popularity has spread well beyond the concert hall. This piece, which might have ended up in the trash bin, is now one of the most popular encore pieces for violinists.
On the solo classical guitar, the Adagio becomes more intimate, the cry of of a solitary heart. Truly, a guitarist who learns this piece will have something to play that is instantly recognizable, even to untrained ears.
Spot Practice Clip:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/embed/FpoY7BdzT4Y[/youtube]Often, in classical-style guitar playing, the texture requires a guitarist to sustain notes in the bass strings to accompany a melodic line on the treble strings. Here, we have the repeated bass line in a 3/4 time signature accompanying two lines in contrapuntal relationship, which creates a complex texture on the guitar fingerboard. In these cases, it is best to practice each bar separately until you have a clear understanding of the texture and the fingering for both your left and your right hands. Then, slowly, combine the bars you have practiced one by one.
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