Waltons Music Blog

Also on this day…

waltonsmusic — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:14:34 +0000

Born in 1860, Isaac Albéniz, Spanish composer (d. 1909), is best known for piano music that brilliantly evokes the spirit of Spain. As a composer-virtuoso, Albéniz successfully melded together composition and performance to create a bravura style reminiscent of the music of Liszt, seasoned with Spanish folk idioms. The work that most convincingly represents this synthesis of virtuosity and tradition is the enchantingly colourful and atmospheric Iberia, a suite of 12 pieces recalling Spanish (particularly Andalusian) places and dances. Albéniz used folklore as his inspiration, but created a singular melodic style, which eventually influenced Debussy and Ravel. Believing that artistic originality and an interest in one’s national musical tradition do not exclude each other, Albéniz likewise was largely the creator of the Spanish musical idiom that would be adopted and developed by Granados and de Falla. Here are 2 completely different interpretations of ‘Asturias’ by Albeniz – first, John Williams:

and here’s Andres Segovia version

Happy Birthday Noel Gallagher!

waltonsmusic — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:03:52 +0000

Born on this day, 29th March 1967, Noel Gallagher, guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of Oasis. Their No.1 album ‘Definitely Maybe’ was the fastest selling UK debut album ever.
Oasis books are available at Waltons from €22 including ‘Standing on the Shoulder of Giants’, ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ ‘Heathen Chemistry’ ‘The Masterplan’ and ‘Be Here Now’: Click here to see the full collection.

Happy Birthday Gary Brooker

waltonsmusic — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:18:25 +0000

Born on this day, 29th May in 1945, Gary Brooker, In 1966, Brooker founded Procol Harum with his friend Keith Reid. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is the worldwide hit that Procol Harum is best known for. Brooker’s melancholic vocals and emotive, eclectic piano playing were a key part of Procol’s musical mix for the entire course of the band’s career. The band broke up in 1977 and Brooker started a solo career and released the album ‘No More Fear of Flying’ in 1979.

ON THIS DAY …

waltonsmusic — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:49:44 +0000

On this day in 1997, singer songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after talking a swim in the Mississippi River, his body was found on 4th June 1997 after being spotted by a passenger on a tourist riverboat.
See all our Jeff Buckley music books here, including ‘Jeff Buckley Collection’ (guitar tab), Jeff Buckley Grace and Other Songs (guitar tab) and ‘Jeff Buckley: The Complete Chord Songbook’.

This weekend’s BOSS clinic at Waltons Georges Street

waltonsmusic — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:04:42 +0000

Don’t forget … this weekend’s BOSS clinic at Waltons Georges Street with Alex Hutchings. 3pm Saturday 2nd June.

Also on this day..

waltonsmusic — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:59:05 +0000

On this day in 1977 – the beginnings of The Police – Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers played together for the first time when they performed as part of Mike Howlett’s band, Strontium 90 in Paris. Here’s ‘Every Breath You Take’.

Check out our selection of Police books here.

On this day..

waltonsmusic — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:51:27 +0000

On this day in 1973, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon was on both the UK and US album charts. It remained in the US charts for 741 discontinuous weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history. (After moving to the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Chart, the album notched up a further 759 weeks, and had reached a total of over 1,500 weeks on the combined charts by May 2006). And here’s one reason why!

Try your hand with these 2 great books: Dark Side of the Moon (Tab edition); Dark Side of the Moon (Piano, vocal & guitar edition). Or for other Floyd books click here.

The Afro-Cuban All Stars on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Pat Kenny

waltonsmusic — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:55:46 +0000

In anticipation of their highly anticipated gig tomorrow, 28 May at the National Concert Hall, The Afro-Cuban All Stars will perform live on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Pat Kenny show on Monday morning. Tune in for a flavour of this fantastic group!

ON THIS WEEKEND -

waltonsmusic — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:48:39 +0000

This Weekend in 1979, ‘Sunday Girl’ gave Blondie their second UK No. 1 hit single. The track was taken from the group’s ‘Parallel Lines’, which went on to become the biggest selling album of 1979. And here she is!

In 1984, Former backing singer with Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams started a 2 week run at No. 1 on the US singles chart with ‘Let’s Hear It For The Boy’, taken from the film ‘Footlose’, a No. 2 hit in the UK. Enjoy the video..

In 1904, George Formby was born. UK singing comedian and ukulele player, he made over 20 films and his best-known song is ‘Leaning On A Lamp Post’. He was made an OBE in 1946, and died on March 6th 1961. Formby was a major influence on George Harrison. Check out our great range of LAG ukuleles here or Hal Leonards: Ukulele Method, Book 1 (CD) here.

In 1920, American singer, actress, Peggy Lee was born. Her real name was Norma Dolores Egstrom, (1958 US No. 8 & UK No. 5 single ‘Fever’). She worked with Benny Goodman, Randy Newman, Quincy Jones and was nominated for 12 Grammy Awards, winning Best Contemporary Vocal Performance for her 1969 hit ‘Is That All There Is’’ She died on 21st January 2002. Let’s turn up the heat this weekend – Lee singing ‘Fever’. Enjoy:

TAKAMINE GUITARS JUST IN! The choice of Glen Hansard, Bruno Mars and Bon Jovi…

waltonsmusic — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:29:24 +0000

TAKAMINE GUITARS JUST IN! The choice of Glen Hansard, Bruno Mars and Bon Jovi…
For over 50 years, Takamine has dedicated itself to the art of fine guitar craftsmanship and places now among the world’s top acoustic guitar makers, with truly fine instruments that are the first choice of players worldwide including Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Glen Frey and our own Glen Hansard. To paraphrase an old joke, when you look in the dictionary under ‘hardest working guitar in show business’, you see a picture of Glen Hansard’s well-worn Takamine, ‘The Horse.’ Bought in 1990, the Horse has had quite a ride over the past 20 years. It first served as Glen’s street companion as he busked for a living on Grafton Street and more recently featured in the film ‘Once’. Here’s Bruno Mars on a Takamine on the Graham Norton Show in 2011: