Two Guitar Concerts in the Norwegian Fjords

I thought you might enjoy a brief update into the life of this musician over the last week, and it has been pretty eventful.
Robin is currently in the beautiful Norwegian Fjords and enjoying the views:




But of course he is actually there to give two concerts, both of which he has now performed.
The theatre, which holds more than 1000 people, was full on each occasion and the audience very appreciative.
Robin has spoken to many of them since, who so enjoyed the first performance that they went along to the second.
In fact one gentleman, who's father was a pianist, thanked Robin for the two concerts saying he had, 'such a wonderful touch on the guitar'. He was close to tears.
For a musician this is a fantastic reward for the many years of hard work that go into each performance. To move a person, not only during a concert but also after the event, is quite an achievement.

But Robin has had time to enjoy some of the spectacular and dramatic scenery, including the snow capped mountains which are making him wish he had taken a coat...



Here you can even see the QM2 amongst the mountains and houses:



But even in remote parts of the Norwegian Fjords it's possible to bump into someone you know.
As Robin enjoyed a walk he met an old friend, Francisco Yglesia, a Paraguayan harpist and former member of Los Paraguayos.

Last I heard they were discussing strings....

Barcelona and The Guitar Gymnasium

Robin is spending the day in Barcelona and judging by the calls I have been receiving, he's having a great time.
One conversation was interrupted by him suddenly exclaiming, "Wow, spectacular."
"What is?" was my frustrated reply as I emptied the washing basket.
It turned out to be a very ornate roundabout!
Since then there have been a number of similar conversations.

Before going ashore he had obviously done his homework.
He was armed with the addresses of two music shops. Both of which he found.
Yet more, "Wow, spectacular, fantastic", type talk followed, and this was just at the rows of stringed instruments that lined the walls.

He was equally delighted when the owner of one of the shops pulled a copy of, 'The Guitar Gymnasium' from the shelf, opened it up, pointed to a picture of Robin on the inside cover, then pointed to the man himself!
As you can tell, the shopkeeper spoke no English and Robin speaks little Spanish.
However, it's an exciting moment for any author to be shown a copy of their own book, particularly when overseas.
They gesticulated wildly at each other for some time, Robin managed to buy some guitar strings, and then he went on his way.

He has of course also been looking at the wonderful buildings in Barcelona and hopefully I will have some photographs for you at some point.
When we last spoke he was lost.
My sympathetic advice, "Head downhill. You don't find many ships perched on the top of one, do you."
I'm now waiting to see if he finds his way back to the QM2...
UPDATE:
My advice proved sound. Robin found his way back and didn't get lost once!

Too Many Heifetz Spoil the Paganini.

My apologies to anyone who may have checked in this morning to find six videos of Jascha Heifetz performing Paganini's Caprice No.24 in A Minor.
I actually tried to post this video two days ago, but, it seemed to take a while to get here, and then, like buses, arrived en masse.
I have since deleted them as you may have thought I'd lost my mind.
Oh well. Maybe I'll try again another day.

Today has been busy yet productive.
I have finally finished all the relevant paperwork for the release of the next CD.
You'll have to wait a couple of weeks for CD Baby to do their part.
I will, of course, update as and when I have news.

This has taken rather a lot of time.
But as Robin frequently pointed out over the last few days, as my patience started to wear thin, it didn't take anything like as long as recording the notes had.
Fair point.

It hasn't all been work.
I did manage to think of another use for old guitar strings, and put it into action.
You thread the guitar string through the middle of a couple of straws, and tie a knot.
This homemade item, then very loosely, represents a bow. Specially designed for the imaginary play of a 5 year old.
You should know that this bow doesn't actually work, and, that the arrows are also straws, making them rather useless.
But believe me, that's actually a good thing.....

Jose Feliciano and the Ventriloquist

Crystal Symphony has spent a couple of days out at sea, so communication has been limited.
The last time Robin was on dry land, he ventured into Puntarenus, Costa Rica.
He proceeded with caution after the bus driver told him a few facts about the area.
Costa Rica has 36 types of poisonous snakes, they have anti venom for 35 of them, so advised not getting bitten by a sea snake....

Not to be deterred Robin continued into town where he found an interesting shop.
His ability to spot guitars at more than 100 paces is legendary.
From a great distance he saw a very old shop, with some dusty guitars hanging in the window.
His heart leapt.
Could there be a priceless guitar hiding in the back of this place? Maybe even one of Barrios's very own...
But he was to be disappointed.
The shop was full of guitars, all very old and tired, and all without strings. (For the non guitarists amongst you, guitars should never be left stringless.)
I breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, back out at sea, life on board Crystal Symphony continues.
Robin has been enjoying the company of a friend he made some time ago, and occasionally their trips coincide. His name is Mark Merchant and he is a comedian and ventriloquist.
He's a very funny man, I know because I've watched his DVD, 'Naked in a Full Length Mirror'.
They have also enjoyed attending each others very different performances.
Not only that, but they have managed a couple of games of paddle tennis, and eaten out together a few times.
He, like Robin, has travelled extensively and worked with many interesting people.
On one occasion Mark spent a few weeks opening for Jose Feliciano in Los Angeles.
Jose Feliciano is a guitarist, born in Purto Rico, who has managed a successful career despite being blind from birth.

After the first week, Mark and Jose still hadn't met.
But as Mark walked past Jose's dressing room, his voice called out, "Is that you Mark?"
He went inside.
Jose continued, "Hey, good to meet you man, you are a great ventriloquist - I haven't seen your lips move once."
Nice.

Anyway, Crystal Symphony will be arriving in Acapulco later today. I'm not sure if Robin will go ashore this time as his second, and final, concert is tonight. But it's only a couple of weeks since he was there anyway.
Mind you, I seem to recall that he liked it very much, so maybe he will allow himself a short excursion.
We'll see.

The Needs of a Travelling Guitarist

It doesn't seem to matter how much notice we have for trips abroad, there always seems to be a last minute panic, and, reasonably organised chaos.
Today has been no exception.
As fast as I have been preparing concert shirts in the last few days, Robin, who has been particularly busy, has been wearing them again.
Finally, today, I think I have caught up with him and we are now ready to pack.

It isn't like packing to go on holiday.
Much more is required.
Apart from the usual every day clothes that anybody would need whilst away, we also have to find room for Robin's concert suit, three concert shirts (on this occasion), concert shoes, strings, footstalls and of course, the extensive nail kit that is required by any travelling guitarist. That alone is the size of a large wash bag.
Oh, then there's a pile of music, some just to be used as a sort of security blanket pre concert, and other new pieces that are currently being worked on.
Not forgetting, passport, visa, (he's heading for the USA), and all the relevant paperwork.
Finally, tennis gear, just in case Robin manages to talk someone into a quick game.

So now I have made my list of things to do, I had better go and get on with it.
Oh, yes, I'd better not forget to add guitar to the list.....

The Many and Varied Uses of Savarez Guitar Strings...

After the technical blog yesterday, about the tremelo technique, I thought we would have a light hearted approach today. Don't worry though, there a plenty of exciting things coming up, including some video footage.

As you can imagine, we get through a large amount of guitar strings, in this house.
Robin uses Savarez, Corum, strings, and as I've said before, regularly changes them.
The bass strings will certainly be changed before every concert, and in between as well. The treble strings, less frequently, but they never stay on longer than a couple of weeks or so.
But what happens to them......
Where do they all go.....

Well, on the whole, you can open any drawer in our house, and a curling mass of strings spill out, and try to escape.
They are unceremoniously returned, and the drawer shut quickly, to prevent any further spillage.

They are also frequently found wound around my vacuum cleaner, with me beside it, patiently 'unwinding'...

But there is an upside.

Robin is not known for his DIY skills, (not a good hobby for someone who relies on his hands to make a living), but he does have to occasionally 'fix' items around the house.
This ALWAYS involves an old guitar string.

The most useful attempt was on our toilet.
For more than 10 years a 'G' string allowed the smooth flushing system to work by holding the ballcock to the lever. It only had to be changed once in that time, and we were quite sad when we had a new bathroom fitted, and returned to a more conventional method of plumbing.

Other uses have been, threading through the locks of a suitcase broken in transit, holding down the bonnet of a car, tying on the bumper of a car, (different cars and only temporary repairs...), attaching bird feeders around the garden and very handy for travellers, to attach to plugs in hotels when the chain has broken.

One of the most ingenious uses was to retrieve some car keys, from the ignition of our locked vechicle, with the aid of coat hangers and a sort of 'noose system'.

But one of the most satisfying, was the repair of these glasses.



Son number two likes to transmogrify into a character, he refers to as 'Mr.Snug', whilst wearing these glasses.
He was therefore devastated to find the 'nose' had fallen off. Not to worry, 'Savarez' saved the day.

Ohh, they are also excellent play things for cats. Our cat Ramsbottom spends many hours chasing them around the house before they get relocated to a drawer, toilet, car, glasses etc.
But don't forget, this is only once they have played many thousands of notes....