Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', and the Solar System.

I did get to speak to Robin last night, just prior to his concert, and asked what he was doing.
"Practising the Miller's Dance, what are you doing?"
"Oh, making a mobile of the solar system, with son number two."
"That's nice."
I didn't think he was really concentrating, so left him to his Falla, and went back to recreating the universe.

However, we did get to talk again after the concert, and it all went very well.
I'd known Robin had been apprehensive about performing Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', from 'The Three Cornered Hat'.
For many years he has performed the piece with the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo, and it has always been hugely popular.
So, when he decided to add it to his solo repertoire, I was looking forward to hearing the end result.
The problem was he couldn't find a suitable arrangement of it anywhere.
So he did one himself.

This was the first time Robin has performed the solo version in public, and it's always a different experience to practising it alone in your music room.
He needn't have worried though, it went very well, and the audience loved it.

Amongst other things, he also played his own 'Fiesta de Xabia', 'Two Dances' by John Dowland, Two pieces for Viheula ('Guardame Las Vacas' - Luis de Narvaez, 'Fantasia' -Alonso Mudarra), 'And I Love Her' - Paul McCartney, 'Una Limosna par el Amor de Dios' - Agustin Barrios, some Villa-Lobos and Pernambuco.

A nice programme, shame I wasn't there to hear it.
Today he should be in Grand Turk, even bigger shame I'm not there to see that, I'm awaiting further news here in the cold.

Cars (Fiesta), Boats (1st Concert) and Trains (Honegger)

It has been rather a strange weekend. Email contact has been minimal due to extortionate costs, and 'phone calls intermittent, so I'll pass on as much as I can, given limited information.

Robin gave his first concert on Saturday and played a lovely programme which was very well received.
Here's an example of some of the pieces he played:

Malaguena - (Trad. Arr. Hill)

Six Renaissance Lute Pieces - (Arr.Chilesotti revised Hill)
(Andante - Bianco fiore - Danza - Galiarda - Se Lo M'Accorgo - Saterello)

Three Tarrega pieces

El Noy de la Mare (Trad.Arr.Llobet)

Three Pieces by Dilermando Reis
(Conversa da Baiana - Si Ela Perguntar - Xodo da Baiana)

La Paloma (Iradier - Arr.Tarrega)

Zapateado -Sabicas

Some of these can be heard on 'Virtuoso', so follow the link if you want to have a listen.

I've been amused over the last few days by the number of people finding this site with searches, 'Ford Fiesta how to buy', and 'How to repair n/s front wing fiesta'.
I only hope that whoever has had an accident in their Fiesta, gained some comfort from listening to Robin's piece, 'Fiesta de Xabia', and weren't too disappointed at the lack of car repair information!

Also, today would have been Arthur Honegger's birthday, so I'm going to go off and listen to 'Pacific 231' in his honour.

'Fiesta de Xabia' by Robin Hill - Guitar

Robin is enjoying some very pleasant weather, as he approaches Costa Rica on board Crystal Symphony, and I think he felt sorry for me back here in the frozen North of England.
So he sent me an audio file, of a piece of music he composed during a family holiday in the sun, to remind me of warmer times.
He recorded this piece just before Christmas, and wanted to share it with you as a taste of things to come, when he is home long enough to record the rest of the album!

The piece is called, 'Fiesta de Xabia'.

It was inspired by the bull running festival in Xabia which we witnessed whilst on holiday in Spain.
It's an incredible sight, the narrow streets are lined with cages, bulls are released into the street, and the men of the town literally run ahead of the bulls, diving into the protective cages at the last minute.
The piece reflects the mood of the whole town.

Ominous trills at the beginning signal the tension and excitement prior to the release of the first animal.
Then the exuberant theme announces the appearance of the first bull.
The increasing virtuosic variations depict the local young (and not so young) men who exhibit an amazing agility in avoiding the horns.
The slowing of the tempo towards the end shows the bull majestic as the final victor and the piece finshes with an ebullient restatement of the main theme.

Hope you enjoy it.

'Fiesta de Xabia' - composed and performed by Robin Hill

For now, you can hear 'Fiesta de Xabia' from the player in the sidebar.