Composer's Desk Reference for the Classic Guitar

Chris Kachian

2010年10月 · Mel Bay Publications

关于此电子书

Traditionally the classic guitar has been either excluded or inadequately represented in orchestration textbooks, resulting in much misinformation about its technique, its practicality in various performance contexts, and its character. The guitar's unique tuning, broad timbral variety and intimate nature pose a formidable challenge to non-guitarist composers, for whom an extensive amount of time would be required to gain even a minimal hands-on acquaintance. For most composers this is an unrealistic expectation, leading to time-consuming consultations and extensive drafting or rewriting. 

The purpose of this book is to provide the non-guitarist composer with the fundamental tools needed to write idiomatically for the guitar. The first of its kind for the guitar, the reference was written in consultation with dozens of composers and conceived with three types of end users in mind: 

• Experienced composers with a concern for writing idiomatically for the guitar.

• Guitarists who are commissioning a work from a composer who has never written for the instrument.

• Libraries that wish to add this essential sourcebook to their music reference section.

The very structure of the book reflects the composer's own intuition by addressing such questions as: 

• How is the guitar constructed?

• What does successful guitar music look like?

• How is the guitar played? 

• How does the guitarist interpret music and express emotion?

• Which musical elements and gestures are most effective? 

• How do these elements combine to create an effective pacing of idioms? 

By examining the parameters of successfully written pieces, The Composer's Desk Reference for the Classic Guitar provides an expedient resource of ideas and illustrations contributing to the fluency of both first-time and seasoned guitar composers.

作者简介

Guitarist Christopher Kachian performs and teaches throughout

the world. He regularly appears with the Heidelberger

Kammerorchester, Kammerensemble Cologne, Radio

Symphonie Orchester des Hessischen Rundfunks, St. Paul

Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and VocalEssence. He has performed in

Japan, China, Europe, Africa, Cuba, Costa Rica, Peru, and throughout

North America.

As a champion of new music, he has commissioned and premiered

over thirty works for guitar including ten concerti.

His concerts are broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio,

National Public Radio and American Public Radio including several

appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. Notable recordings

include Carols and Lullabies (RCA 1995), Images, Shadows and

Dreams (Collins Classics 1996), Woodwind Music (Innova 1997),

phoenix ensemble #1. (Valve-Hearts 1998), Falls Flyer (10,000 Lakes 2002), and Cyprus, First Impressions

(Innova 2005). His discography includes numerous other recordings of music ranging from blues to chamber

music. Mr. Kachian has also composed several scores for public television.

Dr. Kachian is the past editor of the guitar column for String Notes, the journal of the Minnesota

chapter of the American String Teacher's Association/National String Orchestra Association. From

1990-2002 he was guitar director for Minnesota Music

Teachers Association for whom he authored a guitar pedagogy syllabus.

Since 1984, Chris Kachian has directed one of the largest,

multi-genre guitar programs in the USA at the University of

St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he is professor of

music. In addition to teaching privately, he lectures on guitar pedagogy

and guitar history and literature. His research and expertise

ranges from World Music to the music of Europe and the Americas,

and from popular musical idioms to film music.