Spanish Guitar at Private Party Colchester Essex

Spanish Guitar at Private Party Colchester Essex.
A Spanish lady contacted me. She was organising her birthday party and wanted a Spanish theme.
The idea was that everything should be very authentic.
My contribution had to be to play authentic Spanish flamenco.

She had watched my videos and listened to the audio tracks.
Consequently, she already had clear ideas about which pieces she preferred.
We discussed her event in great detail.
My suggestion was that certainly I would play authentic flamenco.

However, I feel that it is most important to select pieces that everyone can enjoy.
Not just flamenco experts.
Both the hostess and the host frequently listen to, know about and love Spanish guitar playing.
Knowing this confirmed to me that I would be free to offer my entire repertoire with all the flamenco moods.

Setting up the Spanish guitar mood.

They had set up a magical shaded area for me under a tree in their delightful garden.
There was a small table with candle light and a Spanish ornament.
They had also set up rows of chairs.
 
The event timings had been organised so that people could choose to sit down to listen if they wanted to.
When people go to this kind of effort you know that they really do want to have you there playing Spanish guitar.

Selecting Spanish guitar pieces

This environment was ideal.
I played many pieces including several that I normally keep for flamenco experts.
These pieces might be for example Tientos, Granaina, Tarantas, Soleares.
Flamenco can sometimes be a little abstract without a clear and obvious theme going through the piece.
This was of course intentional in the origin of flamenco.

Nonetheless I also played many lovely sweet and melodic pieces.
These emotions are also present in Spanish classical pieces.
Indeed, it is possible that the Spanish composers were influenced by flamenco.

Conclusion

All of these thoughts were in my mind as I played.
The environment was conducive to concert standard playing.
I am not sure if all of the guests would have had the same extent of knowledge about Spanish music.

However, it was very clear that they did indeed understand and feel the emotions in the music.
I was grateful to them for their applause.
I will remember this one as very special.