shades of grey.

Dear all,

at this time i would like to take some time to say a few words on the first concert in the 6th year of my learning guitar. [edit: and this could very well be the last time i will play in a concert with the guitar orchestra. theres going to be FOA, but then again, theres the IBDP exams.]

the guitar has been a great friend to me, together we went through exams year after year, made several good friends, tried to attract the attention of girls, even brought tears to someone's eyes. my guitar teacher has said that music is like a journey.. kind of like life. and through life there are ups and downs, joy and sadness [edit: , major and minor keys (hurhur)].

i cannot say that putting together this concert was an easy task. Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians that we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power to overcome struggles is from God and not from us. Even though we are hard pressed on every side, we are not crushed, perlexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. through this challenge of putting together a concert, and many other challenges i have faced before, i have been moulded into a better person. And so are all the guitarists you have seen on stage today. i would really like to thank my wonderful fellow senior com members, [edit: who are not here, but i'd like to thank them anyway,] Eugene, Andre, Ian, Edwin, Shaun Lim. your commitment deserves a gold with honours, the highest award possible at the SYF.

finally, the last piece i would like to play for you is English Suite by John Duarte, which i played for my atcl. John Duarte was a chemist. he only left for full time music when he was 50. despite only having little formal instruction on the guitar, his passion drove him to teach himself music, and he became one of the greatest music commentators of the century. music is relevant to everyone's life, whether or not you have a background in music or not. and that is why, in the words of guitarist John Williams, the guitar is so powerful, because it can '"get in with both feet" to the music that is going on in our and almost anybody else's society; and in a way that belongs to the spirit of what almost all people feel in music'. John Duarte wrote the English Suite for Andres Segovia on his wedding, and is one of my favourite pieces. it has 3 movements (please don't clap in between movements), Prelude, Folk Song, and Round Dance. [edit: my piano teacher once said that if you play a slow piece really really well, you can put the examiner to sleep, but try not to lah.] so please sit back and enjoy the rest of the concert.

posted by guitar123 @ 9:29 AM