Some Questions

[Will Kirk]

Originally Posted by stevel

Yes I know, and the guitar still needs to be amplified to be heard :-).

Steve

Yes, very true, IMHO I think the guitar works incredibly well as a solo instrument, and less as a ensemble instrument

[Thorolf]

The guitar is ideal for some duets: Alto Flute in G is less brilliant than Flute, and hence matches the Guitar very well, another good and interresting combo is Guitar and Cello.

So if you pick your ensemble carefully, guitar is a great ensemble instrument.

Regards

[stevel]

Originally Posted by Will Kirk

Yes, very true, IMHO I think the guitar works incredibly well as a solo instrument, and less as a ensemble instrument

Agreed.

Steve

[stevel]

Originally Posted by Thorolf

The guitar is ideal for some duets: Alto Flute in G is less brilliant than Flute, and hence matches the Guitar very well, another good and interresting combo is Guitar and Cello.

So if you pick your ensemble carefully, guitar is a great ensemble instrument.

Regards

Absolutely good points. You see a lot of Flute and guitar, and that's about the only "classical" combination that is controllable - amongst the more popular classical instruments (i,e, those that would take the lead in a Concerto for instance).

Transverse Baroque flutes or recorders (in lower "quieter" registers) work well against a MODERN classical guitar, but it's hard to find players who would address such a combination - it would usually be a Baroque guitar and flute, or a "classical" guitar and flute. However, if you compose for recorder and guitar, you'll get a modern guitar, and a modern reproduction of a baroque/renaissance recorder at least.

There are probably some other Renaissance instruments that will work quite well, but again, forcing the combination is a bit tricky.

Your suggestion of the Alto Flute is good point - that's what you need. Cello makes sense too, as well as Viola.

I imagine you might be able to work with a Portative organ, or organ registrations that are very, very, quiet.

Otherwise, your guitar had better be playing an accompaniment role, or playing the lead only while everyone else is resting!

In fact, I think (and I'm completely talking off my head here) that that may be part of the reason the guitar found its way into "string bands" - in combination with mandolin, and eventually when becoming steel-stringed, banjo, fiddle, etc. Even with steel strings though, when I see a bluegrass band, the Banjo, Mandolin, and Fiddle take the lead, and even a well-built Gibson or Martin steel string will still get swallowed (and then comes microphones, and electric instruments!).

Best,
Steve

[Will Kirk]

Originally Posted by stevel

Absolutely good points. You see a lot of Flute and guitar, and that's about the only "classical" combination that is controllable - amongst the more popular classical instruments (i,e, those that would take the lead in a Concerto for instance).

I think Paganini wrote several guitar and violin sonatas, that's another of the few combos that are controllable