On Sunday November 20th at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester, I had the pleasure of collaborating on an exciting program of chamber music for Convergence Ensemble with three wonderful musicians: violinist Heidi Braun-Hill, violist Michelle LaCourse, cellist Hyun-Ji Kwon, and myself.
Strings Galore featured music duos with guitar for violin, viola, and cello by John Cage, Antonio Celso Ribeiro, and Thomas L. Read, as well two quartets for strings and guitar by Roland Dyens and Libby Larsen. A trio by Beethoven, and two guitar solos by Bach and yours truly rounded out the program.
Directed by Rachel Goodwin, Convergence Ensemble seeks to stimulate, support, and inspire stronger connections within and between New England communities through chamber music concerts and community enrichment programs.
This was my first collaboration with Convergence Ensemble and the musician, and it was awesome!
Rarely do I have the pleasure of sharing 40min of chamber music, and relatively new chamber music, in a single concert.
Huge thanks to Rachel Goodwin, Rose Hegel, and the Convergence Ensemble board for organizing the concert.
To the composers and friends Antonio Celso Ribeiro and Thomas L. Read, and to the lovely musicians who were gems to create music with.
A wonder of gratitude to the people who helped make my 2-weeks in Southern California a great adventure!
There is not enough room for all the pictures and pages could be written about each of the Artists and amazing people I was able to meet and collaborate with. Please see below for links to many of them.
Sunday Nov. 20 • The Convergence Ensemble presents ‘Strings Galore’ a chamber music concert.
Program Prelude 1, BWV 846 – J.S. Bach
sweet nuance – Aaron Larget-Caplan from Six Melodies – John Cage, Arr. Larget-Caplan
Trio – Beethoven Three Vintage Portraits of Exquisite Ladies Expressing Their Frame of Mind – Antonio Celso Ribeiro Concert Champêtre – Thomas L. Read,
Cajun Set – Libby Larsen – Gringalet • French Blues • Joe Ferail (Whoop and Stomp) Tango en Skaï – Roland Dyens, trio arr. Dyens
I think it was 2008 when I met the writer Glenn Kurtz. Like myself, he was an alumnus of the New England Conservatory and had studied with David Leisner. It was Leisner who recommended Glenn reach out to me.
Reading-Recital in NYC, 2013
Glenn’s book, his first, ‘Practicing – A Musicians Return To Music‘ had just been published by Knopf and he was looking to include a some guitar music during his reading at the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge. I agreed on the condition I would receive a signed copy, which I still cherish. In 2013, Glenn and I performed a few reading-recitals together in Boston and New York. We paired excerpts from his books with the matching pieces. A truly unique and wonderful experience, which attendees still ask me about!
‘Practicing – A Musicians Return To Music’ is an exquisite exploration of guitar history and teaching, and gives a nice glimpse of conservatory life from the eyes of a young musician. The personal story is based on his journals from the time and his desire to explore the musical flame that was such an important part of his life for so many years, but which was no longer. The personal trials and feelings of self doubt regarding “the path” of being a young musician are at time heart-wrenching, but they are always real. Though Glenn did not become the next Segovia, and I have no doubt that is completely fine with him, he inspired my saying, “once a guitarist always a guitarist”. Glenn is a beautiful writer and I highly recommend this book to all, guitar lovers or not.
One of my most popular videos, España Cañi by Pascual Marquina is a classical music standard, though not for guitar! Originally written for orchestra there are few transcriptions for guitar solo. I made this at the request of the phenomenal flamenco and bolero dancer Gabriela Granados.
This is the premiere performance in 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts and filmed on point and shoot camera. Who knew it would take off!?
My arrangement has changed in a few places since 2011, but the energy and excitement of the music remains central to the realization. It combines classical and flamenco techniques into a serious solo. You can find scores (tab and standard notation) in my website STORE.
The first biography of John Cage!
I read this book in early 2012 as I was starting my journey of arranging Cage’s Six Melodies for violin and guitar. Though many of the ideas were quite new to me, I found the writing accessible and the ideas exhilarating. Many of the concerts I had experienced as a student at the New England Conservatory made much more sense!
From Amazon: James Pritchett describes just what it was Cage did and why and how he did it. The book is centered around extensive descriptions of the most important works and compositional techniques, including in-depth explanations of the role of chance and indeterminacy in Cage’s music. Dr Pritchett also considers the relationship of Cage’s musical thought to his interests in such diverse subjects as Eastern philosophy and religion, Marshall McLuhan, and anarchism (among many others). This book thus makes the essential introduction to Cage’s musical world.
The Mysticism of Sound and Music: The Sufi Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan
Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) wrote one of the most influential books on music and sound that I have experienced. Recommended to me when I was an undergraduate by the late New England Conservatory educator/provost and sitar player Peter Row, the book delves into the power of sound as experienced through the Sufism and music of South India. It is not enough for me to say it has had an effect on my approach to music and life. I think of it daily with every tuning of my strings. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
On August 6, 2021 the UK label Stone Records will issue Aaron’s sixth studio album ‘Drifting, Volume 3 of the New Lullaby Project’. At the same time they will re-issue Aaron’s earlier studio albums dating back to his debut album in 2006 and two the first two volumes of the New Lullaby Project. After the
Aaron and Mark Stone at Symphony Hall, 2018
successful collaboration of the 2015 and 2018 releases ‘The Legend of Hagoromo‘ and ‘John. Cage. Guitar.‘, Aaron and label founder/director Mark Stone came to an agreement that the music and the audiences would be best served by expanding their relationship to these albums. A fourth volume of new lullabies is in the works!
Newly released in the Stone Records catalogue:
Tracing a wheel on water (2006) – Music by Barrios, Brouwer, Dyens Pujol, Takemitsu, and premieres by Lior Navok, Daniel Pinkham, and Kevin Siegfried.
New Lullaby (2010) – Volume 1 of the New Lullaby Project. 14 contemporary solos in the genre of the lullaby.
Nights Transfigured (2020) – Volume 2 of the New Lullaby Project. 14 contemporary solos in the genre of the lullaby
Drifting (2021) – Volume 3 of the New Lullaby Project. 15 contemporary solos in the genre of the lullaby.
Already in the Stone Records catalogue:
The Legend of Hagoromo (2015) – Inspired by Japan, each piece has a connection to the country either through the composer or aesthetic. Compositions by Brouwer, Takemitsu, Gershwin, Keigo Fujii, and premieres by Kota Nakamura, Ken Ueno, and Martin Max Schreiner. Only the 2nd recording of the title track.
John. Cage. Guitar. (2018) – The first classical guitar album dedicated to the music of John Cage. Guitar solos, duos for violin and guitar, prepared guitar duo. All arrangements by Aaron Larget-Caplan.
Hosted by Laura Kuhn, Executive Director of the John Cage Trust.
Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Mondays from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m.
All Things Cage is a weekly program featuring conversations between Laura Kuhn, Director of the John Cage Trust, and Cage experts and enthusiasts from around the world. Aaron is featured in three episodes to date. If you’d like to propose a guest or a topic for a future program, write directly to Laura at lkuhn@johncage.org. She’d love to hear from you.
LISTEN FOR FREE!
Each episode includes music or lectures featuring John Cage.
SHOW 1
All Things Cage: Laura Kuhn and Aaron Larget-Caplan(Audio)
Jan 09, 2021
Hosted by Laura Kuhn, Executive Director of the John Cage Trust.
Aaron Larget-Caplan is an international recording, touring, and guitar virtuoso, one of those rare musicians who can seamlessly move between and among baroque, classical, and contemporary music in a single performance. He first came to my attention through his stunning 2018 CD entitled JOHN. CAGE. GUITAR, which contains arrangements of seven works by John Cage, composed between 1933 and 1950, all originally for piano or prepared piano: A Room, Three Easy Pieces, Chess Pieces, Dream, Six Melodies, In a Landscape, and Bacchanale.
This was the first-ever classical guitar recording dedicated to the work of John Cage and it includes not only arrangements for solo guitar, but also for violin and guitar and prepared guitar duo. Larget-Caplan is joined in this recording by violinist Sharan Leventhal (of the Kepler String Quartet) and guitarist Adam Levin. The music on this CD has been described as “…playful, meditative, meandering, introspective, large, quiet, rambunctious, haunting and regal.”
SHOW 2
All Things Cage: Aaron Larget-Caplan with Laura Kuhn(Audio)
Mar 13, 2021
Hosted by Laura Kuhn, Executive Director of the John Cage Trust.
The international recording, touring, and guitar virtuoso Aaron Larget-Caplan was Laura Kuhn’s second guest on All Things Cage on January 9, 2021, and soon after he was asking for an ex post facto quid pro quo: doing another program together, but with their roles reversed. With Larget-Caplan at the helm, their resulting conversation is almost entirely about Kuhn and her 30+ year journey with Cage, but Kuhn closes the program with a lengthy excerpt by Cage himself lifted from his first public performance of his Overpopulation and Art (1992) at Stanford University.
SHOW 3
All Things Cage: Aaron Larget-Caplan with Laura Kuhn, II(Audio)
May 08, 2021
Hosted by Laura Kuhn, Executive Director of the John Cage Trust.
The international recording, touring, and guitar virtuoso Aaron Larget-Caplan is back for the third time, having more questions for our host. Larget-Caplan was Laura Kuhn’s second guest on All Things Cage on January 9, 2021, and soon after he was asking for an ex post facto quid pro quo: doing another program together with their roles reversed. With Larget-Caplan at the helm, their resulting conversation was almost entirely about Kuhn and her 30+ year journey with Cage, but Kuhn closed the program with a lengthy excerpt by Cage from his first public performance of his Overpopulation and Art in 1992. For tonight’s program, Aaron again had his list of questions in hand, but we made it through only the first two. Mostly we talked about why we listen to music, what we’re really asking for from the choices we make, and how musicians tend more often to be active listeners.
Sometimes the universe throws a curve ball that upends our well organized short and longterm plans. In the case of Covid 19, I have a total of 18 events (concerts, classes, radio) on the chopping block for a 3-week period and seven of them have already been canceled/postponed. This has serious immediate financial repercussions for me and my family of over $5K lost, and substantially more if it goes into April. Since Artists rarely speak about finances amongst each other, I thought I would give a few words of advice regarding credit cards and how one can navigate a precarious situation. Remember: In the US we are judged on our teeth and credit rating.
I should state I am a touring classical musician (solo and chamber) who teaches at a university (adjunct) and privately, have multiple recordings and arrangements available, lecture on Creating Commissioning Projects and Being an Artist Entrepreneur, AND lost a house and studio due to a major fire. This is not my first rodeo fugue.
CREDIT CARDS
1 – Call your credit card company(s) and ask if they are offering any kind of relief for those out of work due to Covid 19. If they are unsure then speak with someone who knows; they work for you. Depending on the company and card level, they may offer: – No interest or late payments – Wave late fees and interest at a later time – Small business loans – Horrible hold music (promise!)
• American Express is actually a wonderful card (no spending limit) and is flexible in making things works during hardship, especially if you are a long time card member. I don’t like large corporations, but if you have to have one, I would go with AMEX. The call took 8min. • Chase did not have Massachusetts listed as State of Emergency as of today even though our governor stated such yesterday!! I spent 30min on the phone with an advisor and they did agree to wave late fees and interest, but I would have to follow up after the fact. Also I should check in again to see if things have changed. • I have not yet called BOA…
2 – Make your minimum payments when possible. Unless they have marked your account specifically, it is always a good idea. Get the name of the customer service person at ALL times.
Balance Transfers American Express Everyday Card is a no yearly fee card that offers free balance transfers from non-AMEX cards. Chase Slate card as well, and Bank of America also has one. As most credit cards charge a 3-4% fee automatically on all transfers I highly recommend finding a card(s) that works. You WILL still need to pay the balance amounts, but hopefully this shit-show will have passed, we’ll have a new set of leaders, and our lottery numbers will come in. Link for Best No-Fee Cards:
If you are able to get some relief from immediate payments and if you are able to move the money out of your checking account. Put it into a savings account and try not to touch it. If you are of a certain type it may be best to withdraw the money to have cash on-hand. In either case, DON’T use it the money unless it is a major emergency. YOU STILL OWE THE MONEY! Remember: Nothing is free in the US unless you are famous or rich.
Read the small print. If you have been or are about to be hit with a large jump in interest transfer the balance ASAP. It usually takes 2 weeks, so act even if you have to pay a 3-4% fee. Compounding interest and late fees can destroy a career, home and family. Eating Chocolate and laying in a fetal position may be nice, but the balances won’t go away. Do not have guilt in any of this. It is just a game and learning how to juggle is one more skill freelance musicians should learn. After my fire I went from 3 credit cards to 13 in just over 3-months. It cost money and I made mistakes, but I learned and survived. So can you!
Home Equity Line – Citizens Bank offers a $50K equity line for $50 a year with pretty much a no questions application. Other banks too! Musicians Foundation – Apply for $500-$3000 to assist with medical, utilities, and vendor bills. Will NOT cover credit card bills. Patreon – Create art and ask supports to subscribe for a fee. (See my SITE: https://www.patreon.com/alcmusic!!) Local assistance – The Record Co. is offering small grants for those who lost gigs. The City of Boston is offering grants of up to $1000 for artists of all types who lost income. Support Local Artists – Be a part of the solution! If you are able donate to a Patreon, buy an album (physical with autograph is best), promote another. (Check out my store: https://alcguitar.com/store.php)
Mar 13, 2021
