Lagrima : my farewell to Spain

[Geoff]

Last week I finally returned home after a long and very enjoyable trip to Spain. Loved it there. That Country is so civilized and history is so interesting. Of course, the street music and the Flamenco was a real treat.

I played this piece by Franscisco Tarrega as a tribute to being there. This is one of the few I can recite without music and I never get tired of playing it ❤️. No matter how many times I play this , I find a different way to interpret it. I think it is one of Tarrega’s finest and i am sure many of you have heard it.

[JoLa]

Wow, Geoff, that was so beautifully played!

Your interpretation sounded very seasoned and played with great emotion! Your improvement over time is remarkable, the trip to Spain must have been very inspiring as well. So well done on the recording sound quality, too!

🎸JoLa

[Geoff]

Thanks Jola. The trip to Spain was very inspiring and humbling. There are so many fantastic street musicians there. It is the land of the guitar 🎸 after all 😁.

[sunjamr]

Tarrega was one of my favorite composers, always loved his stuff. Well played, Geoff.

Sunjamr Steve

[David L]

Welcome home, Geoff. I’m glad you had an enjoyable time in Spain. I appreciate your interpretation of Tarrega’s Lagrima – I am familiar with this piece and you do it justice, as you always do.

[San Luis Rey]

Well done Geoff! Your Spanish farewell says a lot with a sad feeling for leaving maybe. Flamenco on the way?

Mike

[Geoff]

Thanks Mike. I am still thinking about what I am going to do next. For now I think I am just going to focus on some relatively easy stuff so I can ease myself back into playing again.

[JoeD1]

Just beautiful is all I have to say! Well, that and I’m glad you enjoyed your trip and returned safely home.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Guido]

Sounds great, Geoff! If I remember well you posted a rendition of “Lagrima” a few years ago, and it sounded good, but now your playing with classical guitar has improved in amazing way, not only spotless but also full of expressiveness in every note!

Glad that you enjoyed very much your travel in Spain and for sure it was very inspiring also for your journey with the Spanish guitar, especially if you’ve been in Andalucía, cradle of flamenco !

Guido

[Geoff]

That’s true Guido. I have played this piece many times in the past and not surprised that I posted it some time ago – must have been a while back. When I look back at past recordings of this piece, I can see that I think about it very differently now and I have a very different interpretation. Slow and expressive seems to be the best way with this one.

I spent a fair bit of time in Andalucia and got to watch a great performance in Granada.

[Guido]

Great city Granada, with its beautiful Alhambra palace (Alhambra is also a Spanish classical guitar brand, my classical guitar is an Alhambra 😃!). Been there many years ago, good memories.

Guido

[Geoff]

Hi Guido, when you were in Granada , did you get to watch the Flamenco in those cliff top caves ? That was the highlight of my trip 🙂

[Guido]

No, I didn’t. But I remember I was in a square with a terrace with a beautiful view on the Alhambra, where one guy was playing and singing Flamenco songs.

Guido

[Andy N]

Magical Geoff. Your playing has gone up yet another level. There’s so much expression in the timing and dynamics. Your trip to Spain has inspired you. Hope you managed to pick up a few flamenco tips while you were there too.

[Geoff]

Hi Andy, I think this piece is all about the expression. Never get tired of playing it.

[Garry]

Beautiful performance Geoff. Oozing expression and I especially loved the tonal changes. Wow, a trip to Spain. This must be heaven for Classical/Spanish/Flamenco players! Thanks for sharing. All the best! 😎🎸😎

[Geoff]

Hi Garry, I think Spain is something of a paradise for Classical and Flamenco guitarists.

When I was in Granada we bumped into some guys there for classical master classes. If I had my time again, I would attend those myself.

[Dieter]

Hi Geoff, Lagrima is one of the “classics” that you simply have to have in your program as a nylon guitarist. Your version is wonderfully melodic – great.
P.S. I’ve never been to Spain myself, but I think the music influenced by the Orient is wonderful.

Dieter

[Geoff]

Hi Dieter, I think you might be talking about the Moorish influences on Spanish music. Very much so. The history of the Moors in Spain is of great interest to me and it was long – 700 years!

[wannaplayblues]

Fantastic job! Sounds amazing – great audio recording setup!

"I hear you talkin' son, but you 'aint sayin' nothin'" - Will McFarlane quoting Muddy Waters hearing a really fast guitar player

[Mike D]

Lovely rendition .. I feel after listening I need to make an espresso and go sit outside under the sun. Well done.

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[Helen Lazaridou]

This is absolutely magical Geoff!!!!!You put feeling in every single note ,you take your time and Iam sure you are enjoying playing it as much as I enjoy listening to it!A great tribute to your wonderful trip in Spain indeed 💕❤️💖❣️

[Geoff]

Thanks Helen. Brian has always said the spaces between the notes are as important as the notes themselves. This is one of this pieces where I have really been trying to apply that idea.

[Ralph P.]

Your playing sounds so relaxed Geoff. Probably because you don’t have to follow the score on this one.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Spain, and welcome back to North America.

Ralph

Ralph P.

[Geoff]

Thanks Ralph. It is good to be back – I think 🙂

[Guo, Tao]

Wish you had a great trip Geoff! Spain is on my to-go list. Your playing is very delicate and full of emotion, which is truly moving.👏 👏👏👏

Friend of Ray (The Corgi)
Vive la music!
--- Tao

[Geoff]

Thanks Tao. That’s a great compliment because it is emotion I am attempting to convey.

I cannot say enough good things about Spain. It is the land of the guitar after all 🙂

[Author]

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