Monday Motivation: Ponce Edition
“Be not so bigoted to any custom as to worship it at the expense of truth.”
—Johann Georg von Zimmermann
Lately I’ve been listening to some of Ponce’s music. I’ve not heard a lot of it and I haven’t studied any. These four pieces, performed by Jeffrey McFadden, caught my ear.
Bobber
I have the music to the Valse (second piece). I think I worked on it once a long time ago. He plays nicely here but I don’t like the way he strums. Seems a bit harsh and out of character for Ponce.
Adam Holzman plays Ponce very nicely.
Trev Man
I agree that the strumming is a bit harsh, but Holzman’s is a bit lagging (I find Jeff’s tempo a bit better in general because it is more engaged to pulse and less cautious) and the two quick strums sound funny on his recording. His interpretation is too quaint, with strange old-fashioned mannerisms. Strumming with the fingers is more suitable, in this particular instance, than thumb, but I agree that Jeff could have dialed down the intensity a notch.
Bradford Werner
Canadian Content! Classical Guitar Canada likes this!