Classical Guitarist Luther Enloe - Guárdame Las Vacas by Narváez

http://lutherenloe.com

This performance of Guárdame Las Vacas by Luys de Narváez (c. 1500 -- 1560) is from a recital I gave in Athens, Georgia, on 4/28/2008. This work is one of the earliest examples of a theme and variation. The theme to Guárdame is a popular Renaissance tune based on the Romanesca chord progression. The title (Watch My Cows) and flowing compound meter also demonstrate an early example of instrumental music evoking a pastoral setting. Narváez published two separate sets of variations based on this theme using slightly different chord progressions. I've included one variation from the second publication, played an octave lower on the repeat, ala Segovia.

I hope that you enjoy the performance.

Luther Enloe - classical guitarist

I teach guitar at Berry College in Rome, Georgia: http://berry.edu

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Classical
• guitarist
• narvaes
• Guárdame
• Vacas
• Spanish
• Renaissance
• performance
• music
• Sutherland
• UGA
• Berry
• Classical Antiquity
• Guitar
• Classical Music
• Renaissance Period (music)
• Vihuela

[liosama]

I like your arpeggios throughout and your legatos too, very smooth. I'm going to try finish learning this piece, but it's so hard getting the legatos right because i've gotten my picking used to non-legato which at times captures renaissance style, but at others not! asdlkjaslkdjaslkjd

Segovia plays the first few bars much different to you though

[lutloe]

@liosama Thank you for your post liosama! I agree with your comments on legatos. I prefer to finger slurs in Renaissance vihuela music based on the musical style and the strengths and weakness of the guitar and do not base my interpretations on trying to imitate the sound of the vihuela.

[lutloe]

@liosama While respecting the intentions, or what we know of the intentions, of 16th century vihuelists, I am not overly concerned with attempting to create a “historically accurate” performance so much as something I find beautiful and meaningful within the context of the musical style.

[lutloe]

@liosama In terms of Renaissance style, the seven printed vihuela books from 16th-century Spain contain nearly 700 pieces, approximately 420 of which are intabulations of sacred and secular vocal polyphony. It is, therefore, not surprising that the musical style of vihuela and guitarra music exhibits melodic traits that reflect the legato nature of Renaissance vocal music.

[raulcalderonbird]

A very good performance of the piece. Five stars, of course. I know this variations not as "Guárdeme" but as "Guárdame". Both words are correct and both means almost the same thing, but not exactly the same thing. Please, forgive my poor english.

[lutloe]

Thanks for commenting raulcalderonbird. I'm glad that you liked my performance. I also know this piece as "Guárdame". The "Guárdeme"spelling was an example of my bad Spanish! I've corrected the typo, thanks.

Best Wishes,

Luther

[HailThyDrumKit]

it makes you nostalgic of times you've never had....

[Antoinestevens]

si tu ne peux aps être artiste, deviens critique

[liosama]

@lutloe silly me, I just did a quick youtube of even more vihuela stuff and it isn't technically difficult. My greatest fault is that I assume too much !

[liosama]

@lutloe wow thanks for the explanation and response! I was always under the assumption that they were technically difficult and hence weren't done on the vihuela simply because of the energy required for going into every single pick. There is a lot of energy loss so a new pick is required for every note. I myself have played bits and pieces on the Oud and legatos on that are hard. Never at all thought about the the vocal transcription aspect though which seems to be so obvious now

[noviceblue]

Very nice performance Luther. I enjoyed your inclusion of the variations which really makes it stand out - almost like hearing it for the 1st time. I'm working on both Cancion Del Emperador and Guardeme Las Vacas. Alas, I've got miles and miles to go before they sound remotely like your performances. Fortunately, players like yourself inspire me to persist!

[skategangster]

Very Very nice job Luther, your the first guitarist I've heard (besides myself) that plays the variations that were added by Segovia - excelent performance!!!

[eNNe93]

Excelente video! que bien suena, qué limpio. Felicidades

[MrDISCOVERY123]

Great performed!! 5 *****!! Where can l get this piece??? lf can send it!! Appreciate!! :D