Classical Guitarist required: Birmingham/Midlands UK

Cafe Society
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I play in a guitar duo. One half of the duo is leaving for New Zealand in about three months. The other half is going to be left here, quite bereft.

<sniff>

Anyway, I’m looking to replace her, which I don’t think will be easy.
I ought to tell you at what level I play, which is hard, because I’m self taught and haven’t been through the grades, though I have played for over 20 years, so I can’t be complete rubbish. :slight_smile:

What I can tell you is that my current partner studied guitar through the grades and then at university, and whilst she is relatively stronger in some aspects (she’s an excellent reader and has sumptuous tone) I’m not awe-struck by her playing, and in more than one respect I’m a stronger player (my left hand is stronger, I ain’t phased by cross-rhythms, and arpeggiation is a doddle).

Taste-wise. I tend, unapologetically, towards musical cheese – I have no pretensions to any “academic” interpretation or repertoire. For example, my favourites among our current repertoire include:
Granados’ Orientale
Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Vivaldi’s *Andande from the “Concerto for two Mandolins” *
All of them light and fluffy, but just so gorgeous.

What do I want out of the duo? Firstly, some motivation to keep playing. Secondly, ensemble playing is always an education in itself. Thirdly, there isn’t anything more beautiful than the sound of a guitar, except the sound of two guitars. Fourthly, it’s fun.

Where do I expect it to go? Depends – if we get a good enough rep there’s no reason why it can’t be a little money spinner, but realistically getting paid gigs is hard. If all that happens is that occasionally we get to play for a few friends or blag some restaurateur to bung us a few quid for entertaining their diners every Valentine’s day, then that’s fine too.

So, any doper classical guitarists local to me in search of a guitar partner?

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In case you don’t get an ideal reply here, I presume you’ve already advertised at your local universities, students’ unions, local press, music press, recording studios, regular venues you play etc.? Everybody I know who needs band members does it that way.

Birmingham, Aston, Nottingham, Warwick and Leicester Universities all have decent music departments and in my experience plenty of students play classical as well as rock guitar whatever course they’re studying. A hand-written ad similar to the OP on a notice board should be a good start. Add a few tear-off strips along the botttom edge with your contact number.

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Thanks Everton, haven’t yet, but of course I will (I live 1/2mile away from BU).

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If I lived in England I would be so there. I have played through the three pieces you mentioned, the latter two as a staple when I gigged. I am probably closer to what your former partner was as our qualifications look about the same; however, I have a lot of flamenco training as well so polyrhythms don’t really bother me.

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dorkusmalorkusmafia, well maybe it’s fortunate that we live in different countries, by the time the audience had read the billboards:

The Great Unwashed and dorkusmalorkusmafia perform…

they would have fallen asleep – I need someone with a shorter name. Thanks for the thought though.

This post was not just an excuse to bump this thread, honest.