Day One: Concert Robert Horna
After the second workshop it was time for the first recital, to be played by the Polish guitarist Robert Horna, who lives in Enschede and gives lessons in the region of Twenthe. Visit the website of Robert Horna for more information.
Hij beet met Astor Piazzola de spits af.
He set the ball rolling with Astor Piazzola.
Milonga del Angel would become a close acquaintance to me during this festival (;-) I would consider it a title song). A beautiful piece of lamentado con amore from the tradition of the Argentinian Tango.
Adios Nonino is very well known in Holland, because the tune was played at the wedding of Princess Maxima and Crown-Prince Willem Alexander, this song from her homeland Argentina moved her noticeably. Despite this reputation, the piece remains a moving lament on the death of a father, when sadness is equally softened and worsened by the thought that his suffering is over forever.
Verrana Porteno and Otono Porteno were passionate pieces with dark emotional movement. Some people call the Argentinian Tango the Blues of Buenos Aires, and that’s not for nothing.
Mr. Horna continued his recital with Barrios. I love Barrios’ music, even though many of his compositions appear too difficult to play by me. There is a kind of emotion in the music which touches me deeply. Specifically pieces like Un Sueno en la Floresta and Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios (oh, such a shame that Robert Horna did not play thát!) succeed in tickling my emotions. Well, Mr. Horna’s play of Un Sueno had that effect. Wonderful what music can do!
Andrew York’s Sunburst was an old acquaintance for me, a nice fusion between classical guitar music and modern finger picking structures.
Robert Horna finished his recital with Koyunbaba by Carlo Domeniconi. A recent work with giant technical challenges, but maybe a bit too complex for my simple musical mind.
Mr. Horna’s recital was a great opener. Specifically his neat and precise finishing touch appealed to me. As an amateur guitarist I used to live with some screeching of my fingertips on chord- and position changes, but not so with Robert Horna! Beautiful to hear and see!