Rowland's Commentary

I began studying the violin at a very young age. It is such an amazing instrument. I could pick it up and time would stop for hours. The focused concentration and discipline, the ear training, the intensity, the manual dexterity, and the love of classical music were all wonderful benefits of the process.

Later, I began to learn the guitar. But in contrast to the violin, I precociously decided on a less formal approach. I took a few lessons to get started, and then I began to learn to play by listening and by developing scales and the chords that fall out of them. Although I have taken lessons over the years in everything from jazz to classical, my approach to the instrument has remained fundamentally the same; listening and playing.

The guitar is such an amazing instrument. It is the only instrument that I know that someone can pick up, learn a few simple chords in a few hours, and suddenly have a rich accompaniment section literally "at their fingertips". Going beyond that level however, can become a staggering challenge. The instrument’s complexity in terms of its tonal relationships can keep many people imprisoned, "lifers" in the first position, with only a few scale and chord options.

Breaking the natural barriers of the guitar can be the beginning of a truly rich personal experience. The instrument's complexity lends itself to the most fantastic combinations of tonal and harmonic relationships. And timber! From the quietest nylon string guitar to the raunchiest, loudest, mega-distorted sound, dripping with reverb! What else could anyone want??

I didn’t really know what "Symphony For Guitar" was all about until I was half way through the composing/recording process. I love improvising. I love pieces that never sound the same. I love minor keys, tension, dynamics, complex chords, and strong, powerful melodies. But I love quiet, soft pieces that seem to wander through notes like someone walking through a park on a summer afternoon. I love classical, rock, jazz, country, and "weird". I love music.

"Symphony For Guitar" was an expression of all of the above, and it represented the first time in my life when I had sat down and composed whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it - if you will excuse the pun, "with no strings attached".

Regards,

Rowland

P.S.-

Since writing the above we have released "Deja Vu", a two CD compilation of instrumental guitar music. The sentiments and the process started by "Symphony for Guitar" were continued in our latest release, and I know you will enjoy the results!!

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