Solo Guitar

Music of the East & West

From the songs of Schubert & Gershwin to myths and dances of contemporary Japan, Aaron explores the sounds, poetry and aesthetics of classical music from the East & West by American and Japanese composers. The culmination is Aaron's acclaimed CD ‘The Legend of Hagoromo’ (Stone Records, 2015).

Bach Re-imagined

Bach compositions rarely heard on guitar is a recent project of Aaron's. Aaron's first Bach arrangement, a mash-up of three versions of a fugue, was begun in 2014. Since then he has arranged a series of small preludes and fugues, numerous WTC Preludes, cantata movements, and the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue. His all-Bach programs include a few Bach guitar standards as well.
Goal: All-Bach concerts and Recordings

John. Cage. Guitar.

Aaron explores the early and mid-career lyrical music of John Cage through transcriptions of Cage's piano music for guitar. His work has been called "trailblazing, accessible, fascinating" (Soundboard). The music nods to the lyricism of Satie, the rhythmic drive of Stravinsky, the simplicity of a lullaby, and with the colors of the guitar. Music for guitar solo, violin-guitar, prepared guitar duo, and voice-guitar.
The album 'John. Cage. Guitar.' was issued by Stone Records in November 2018.
Publications of the arrangements by Edition Peters include: 'Six Melodies' in 2015 and 'Piano Music Arranged for Guitar' in 2017.
In January 2020 Aaron was Musician in Residence at Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity to continue his John Cage transcriptions.
Goal: More Cage arrangements and recording
Click HERE for album and publication information.

Night Song

Music by composers from around the world from Aaron’s acclaimed New Lullaby Project. Started in 2007 as a non-intimidating way to introduce composers to the guitar and audiences to contemporary music, Aaron has since premiered 56 'New Lullabies', released a disc, and recorded even more. All New-Lullaby concerts have taken place in Moscow, Russia, Boston, Mass., and rural New Hampshire and Oregon. 17 have been recorded. A 2nd album is in the works.

Bach and the Carnatic Preludes of Vineet Shende

Bowdoin college composer Vineet Shende and Aaron Larget-Caplan collaborate in an exploration of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier and Indian ragas through Shende’s Carnatic Preludes, After J.S. Bach re-imaginings of some of the famed WTC Preludes in a South Indian musical language. Each Carnatic Prelude is paired with Larget-Caplan’s artistic transcription of the original keyboard prelude arranged for guitar.
Begun in 2017, 3 premiered by 2018.
Goal: 12 Bach & Carnatic Preludes by 2020

New England States Touring Grant Program Aaron Larget-Caplan is a roster artist for the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England States Touring Grant program! Fee support for public performances or education/outreach programs may be available to nonprofit organizations in ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, and CT. Visit www.nefa.org for more information.

¡Con Fuego! (with Fire!)

Guitar & Dance

¡Con Fuego! (with Fire!) fuses classical Spanish music with flamenco dance and song in an exciting program of new and traditional music. Founded and directed by Aaron Larget-Caplan, ¡Con Fuego! performs as a trio of dance/voice, guitar and cello with artists based in Boston and New York. A flexible group of 2-4 performers, ¡Con Fuego! blends the subtle beauty of classical music with the fiery passion of flamenco for an unforgettable experience. Classical tradition and the raw energy of flamenco come together in music by Isaac Albéniz, Manuel De Falla, Francisco Tarrega, Joaquin Rodrigo, Enrique Granados, and Esteban Sanlucar.

¡Con Fuego! Artists:
La Conja, dancer/singer 
Gabriela Granados, dancer
Aaron Larget-Caplan, guitar & director
Rafael Popper-Keizer, cello
Stephen Marotto, cello

There are many flamenco ensembles, as well as classical music ensembles that focus on Spanish music, but few combine the traditions of Spanish folk music (flamenco) and Spanish classical music. ¡Con Fuego! is a unique gift to the heart and senses.

"Virtuoso guitar, hypnotic dance, silky castanets & splendid costumes come together for a riveting night of Spanish dance & song." – Flamenco Planet

“powerfully engaging, expressive…familiar works took on new life and energy”
– CDZ Collegium Musica, Oregon

New England States Touring Grant Program Fee support for ¡Con Fuego! may be available to nonprofit organizations through the New England States Touring (NEST) program of the New England Foundation for the Arts. Visit www.nefa.org for more information.

New Lullaby

Night Songs - Music of the New Lullaby Project

A commissioning, performance, and recording endeavor that bridges the fear and intimidation that audiences have towards 'new music' and that composers feel for writing for the guitar, for "Who's Afraid of a Lullaby?!"

• 56 compositions premiered by 52 composers between 2007-2018
• Composers from 8 countries represented: France, USA, Japan, Russian, Norway, Poland, Spain, Afghanistan, and Australia.
• Lullabies in various musical languages: tonal, minimalist, 12-tone, quarter-tone, and polyphonic.
• 1 album of 14 New Lullabies released in 2010. 17 recorded to date. A second recording is planned for 2020.
• All-New Lullaby concerts given in Moscow, Russia, Oregon, Boston, Salem, and New Hampshire with pajamas, hot chocolate, and pillows for kids. Late-night version for college students and adults.

Young People’s Concerts

Educational and entertaining cultural events exploring cultures, languages, learning, and the guitar for students and listeners of all-ages.
45"-1hr in length, these interactive concerts are often performed in school classrooms or in assemblies, community settings, or as part of a larger cultural arts residency.

Spirit of Spain

Tour Spanish history, geography, language and poetry on this masterful musical tour of España with Aaron and his Spanish guitar. Lively stories & musical activities introduce 400 years of classical music from exotic Spain and Latin America. Poetry, music and guitar history guide us. ¡Olé! – Guitar solo or w/flamenco dance

Curriculum Links
Music • Poetry • Foreign Languages • History & Social Sciences • Multicultural Studies

Night Songs

Explore the sounds and secrets of night-music through compositions written for award winning classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan’s New Lullaby Project. Musical introductions, composer stories, and guitar listening secrets glitter the interactive program and introduce young listeners to the classical guitar and contemporary composition languages using the traditional genre of the lullaby.

Latin Travels

A rousing journey via music and poetry through wild jungles & rainforests, gorgeous cathedrals, & bustling colonial cities of Latin America with Aaron Larget-Caplan. Cuban folk songs, Venezuelan waltzes, Tangos from Argentina & birds from Mexico! Hear the history and geography of the region with the classical guitar as guide. – Guitar solo or duo with flute or violin

Curriculum Links
Music • Poetry • Foreign Languages • History & Social Sciences • Multicultural Studies

New England States Touring Grant Program Aaron Larget-Caplan is a roster artist for the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England States Touring Grant program! Fee support for public performances or education/outreach programs may be available to nonprofit organizations in ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, and CT. Visit www.nefa.org for more information.

About AaronAaron has been creating educational and entertaining young people programs with “Bernstein-like ease” alongside his formal concert career for close to 20-years, introducing classical and modern music in cities, rural regions of Oregon, New Hampshire, and Russia. Recent past performances and residencies include ICA-Boston, Art Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, Young Audiences of Massachusetts, Cannon Beach Theater, Hartford Performs and many more.

Workshops & Master Classes

New England States Touring Grant Program

In conjunction with concerts, Aaron regularly gives master classes and workshops to students at conservatory or university as well as beginners. His lectures often include performance and can be a wonderful introduction to the guitar or a means to delve further in its exploration. The master classes focus on body mechanics, sound production, music history and style, guitar technique (classical, flamenco and contemporary) as well as arranging.

Lectures topics:
Writing for Guitar – A Composers Workshop
Commissioning New Composition Projects
Being an Artist Entrepreneur in the 21st Century

Select Past Lectures, Classes and Workshops:

Berklee College of Music • Mu Phi Epsilon 2017 Convention, Denver • Guitar Foundation of America 2016, Denver • State University of Arts & Science, Moscow, Russia • Conservatorio Di Musica Di Stato F. Cilea, Italy • University of Memphis • University of Vermont Burlington • University of Nevada Las Vegas • CSU Bakersfield • Adams State College • Wheaton College • Tufts University • Salem State University • Suffolk University • University of Massachusetts Boston • Boston Conservatory • Boston Classical Guitar Society • New England Guitar Society • Eastport Arts Center, Maine

New England States Touring Grant Program Aaron Larget-Caplan is a roster artist for the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England States Touring Grant program! Fee support for public performances or education/outreach programs may be available to nonprofit organizations in ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, and CT. Visit www.nefa.org for more information.

Residencies

Coming soon