Guitar News

An artist-published film of Bach’s four-movement sonata, recorded in Honrath with audio and video by Musik.Im.Blick.

Juyeong Bae performs Songe Capricorne by Roland Dyens (1955–2016). This comes via Partita Studio in Seoul, South Korea on their YouTube channel (go subscribe). This a great performance to study contrasts in musical expression. Each phrase has very specific articulation, dynamics, accents, and colour choices.

As Dyens mentions in his score from Editions Henry Lemoine:

I have to admit to a sneaking liking for this Capricorn dream which, for the price of re-tuning your A string to B, will whisk you off to a new but friendly world, very different from our everyday environment. Here bells ring out, arpeggios and harmonics cascade like waterfalls, all blending in an evocation of the harp, where the sounds of today and modal memories of yesterday join in friendly rivalry. – Roland Dyens

The post Juyeong Bae Performs Songe Capricorne by Dyens first appeared on This is Classical Guitar.

Barcelona’s Art Llobet festival runs from 24 October to 15 November, with a 2026 theme linking the guitar to Modernism.

The 2026–27 awards support two internationally active guitarists at USC Thornton School of Music.

Canadian guitarist Jérôme Ducharme performs Prelude, Fugue & Allegro, BWV 998 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) on a René Wilhelmy classical guitar. This comes via Canadian luthier René Wilhelmy’s YouTube channel (go subscribe).

I really enjoyed the very rhythmic and well paced prelude performance. I love this prelude played freely or more with a bit more refined structure as heard here with very controlled articulation and placement of the main pulse.

The release dates for the rest of the movements are:
Fugue — September 29
Allegro — October 13

I’ll update this post as they are released.

Sheet Music Editions of Bach

If you enjoyed this performance maybe you’d like to check out editions of Bach sheet music with videos.

• Suite in E Minor BWV 996 by Bach (Complete), Advanced
• Cello Suite No.2, BWV1008 by Bach (Complete), Early-Advanced
• Bouree from BWV 996 by Bach, Grade 6, Free
• Prelude in D minor, BWV 999 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude, Cello Suite BWV 1007 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude in E Major, Lute Suite BWV1006a – Advanced
• Air ‘On the G String’ BWV 1068 by Bach, Grade 4
• Bist du bei mir (Be thou with me) by Bach & Stölzel, Grade 6
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring BWV 147 by Bach, Grade 4
• Minuet in G, Anh.114 by Bach/Petzold, Grade 4
• Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208 by Bach, Grade 6
• Sinfonia (Arioso) from Cantata BWV 156 by Bach, Grade 5

The post Jérôme Ducharme Performs Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV 998 by Bach first appeared on This is Classical Guitar.

Violeta Parra’s song reaches the solo guitar in Emmanuel Sowicz’s arrangement, filmed in Chile.

Ungdommens Gitarmesterskap returns to Åsane kulturhus, with a promised livestream for audiences beyond Norway.

Hungarian classical guitarist Zsombor Sidoo performs Violin Sonata No.2, BWV 1003 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) played on a Bernhard Kresse Stauffer Model 2011. Movements include Grave, Fuga, Andante, and Allegro. This comes via Sidoo’s YouTube channel (go subscribe). 

Amazing performance with excellent pacing throughout and careful motivic attention. Bach’s Sonata No.2 was composed for solo violin and includes a monumental fugue that is exceptionally long and substantial, running 289 measures and standing as one of Bach’s most extended fugues for a solo instrument.

Sheet Music Editions of Bach

If you enjoyed this performance maybe you’d like to check out editions of Bach sheet music with videos.

• Suite in E Minor BWV 996 by Bach (Complete), Advanced
• Cello Suite No.2, BWV1008 by Bach (Complete), Early-Advanced
• Bouree from BWV 996 by Bach, Grade 6, Free
• Prelude in D minor, BWV 999 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude, Cello Suite BWV 1007 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude in E Major, Lute Suite BWV1006a – Advanced
• Air ‘On the G String’ BWV 1068 by Bach, Grade 4
• Bist du bei mir (Be thou with me) by Bach & Stölzel, Grade 6
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring BWV 147 by Bach, Grade 4
• Minuet in G, Anh.114 by Bach/Petzold, Grade 4
• Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208 by Bach, Grade 6
• Sinfonia (Arioso) from Cantata BWV 156 by Bach, Grade 5

The post Zsombor Sidoo Plays Sonata No. 2 (BWV 1003 by Bach first appeared on This is Classical Guitar.

Salzburg hosts concerts and a competition on 3–5 December, with competition applications due on 15 October.

The Spanish guitarist’s September release places three contrasting approaches to the guitar sonata in one programme.

A 2026 performance from Russell’s own channel introduces a miniature from Estarellas’s Homenaje a Charles Chaplin.

Guitar and clarinet meet at Herbst Theatre on 24 October, with Barrios, Paraguayan song and a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie.

The festival runs from 22 October to 8 November, with named prizewinner concerts and a fuller programme announcement to follow.

Applications are open for the September 2027 competition, with a July deadline and a $35,000 first prize.

Question: What is the best position for the music stand when playing classical guitar?

Answer summary: The best music stand position depends on whether you are performing or practicing and involves many variables such as ergonomics and visual sight lines. In general, a position slightly toward your left and high enough that you do not have to bend your neck or arch your back in order to see the music is ideal. Below I give you a strong recommendation and then explore the variables in more depth.

Here is the YouTube video link in case you need it.

Ideal Music Stand Position for Home Practice

When practicing at home you can prioritize ergonomics and convenience. You can even adjust the stand to help correct, or at least encourage, posture and position issues.

Horizontal position: Adjust the music stand so you can see both the music and your left hand in your peripheral vision. This will help you avoid looking back and forth from the music to your hand. Don’t move it so far that your neck is bent and turned to the left, have it center left so your eyes can see a bit of both the music and your left hand.

Vertical position: You should adjust the music stand to be high enough that you do not have to bend your neck or arch your back in order to see the music. In fact, for student with bad posture I often raise it so they need to straighten out in order to see the music.

Visual acuity: Depending on your eyes and vision you may need the stand closer or further to see the music clearly. When sight reading I need it a bit closer but when playing something I know well the music can be further away as I’m using it almost as a guide.

Music Stand Position When Performing

When performing you want a clear line of sight between the audience and your guitar and body. This is important to the audience, they came to see and hear you. You also don’t want the music stand to block the sound that is directed at your listeners. Therefore, the music stand is often quite low. It should be low enough that the audience can see your guitar and hands clearly.

When playing music we know well this is usually fine as we have it half memorized anyway and are using the score more as a guide. When sight reading or playing ensemble music compromises must be made depending on your visual acuity.

The post How to Position a Music Stand for Classical Guitar first appeared on This is Classical Guitar.

A compact performance from Danilina’s own channel introduces a contemporary piece by Alfred Feenstra.

A 7 October lunchtime recital pairs guitar and accordion in music ranging from Ponce and Schubert to Piazzolla.

Plan a visit to Uppsala’s October festival, with classical concerts, young talent and a guitar fair across the programme.

Released on 28 August, Ilumina brings together music by six composers, with a booklet and listening links for repertoire explorers.

Bradford Werner performs Studio No.15 – Canto di primavera (Omaggio a Igor Stravinskij) from Studi di virtuosità e di trascendenza by Angelo Gilardino (1941-2022) on classical guitar. This comes via my YouTube channel. Published by Editions Bèrben. The sheet music edition can be found via Bèrben (Edizioni Curci).

This video was performed on a Marcus Dominelli classical guitar with Augustine Regal strings and a Le Support “Voyager” guitar support. See all my gear here.

The post Bradford Werner performs Studio No.15 (Omaggio a Stravinsky) by Gilardino first appeared on This is Classical Guitar.