Andrew Rubin and Jon Anderson, Guitar Concerto

[bondegezou]

Jon Anderson's renaissance year continues. With the ARW tour imminent, you may not have noticed this digital EP that came out on 1 Oct. http://andrewrubin.bandcamp.com/releases is a 14-minute piece for guitar and chamber orchestra, available on Bandcamp as a pay what you want. It's co-written by Rubin and Anderson, but Anderson does not perform. Nice stuff.

Henry

[Sunlight Caller]

Thanks Henry, I am listening now, very nice indeed, will definitely get a download of this. I would be interested to read more about Anderson's input to the writing of this.

[Paulrus]

You can definitely hear Anderson's imprint on it. The triple meter time sig alone is a dead giveaway.

[Scott Bails]

Sounds really good. Thanks, Henry!

[Garden Dreamer]

Anderson, a huge fan of classical music, suggested to Rubin that he create his own concerto for guitar, inspired by the likes of Rodrigo’s “Concierto De Aranjuez.”

I read that, and I'm in with both feet!

[Garden Dreamer]

The opening to Movement II sounds like a Howe part from Revealing Science of God.

[N_Singh]

The opening to Movement II sounds like a Howe part from Revealing Science of God.

Ugh . Howe is a mediocre classical player . And come to think of it , his tone on the 175 will never make people forget Joe Pass or Jim Hall.

[Paulrus]

And come to think of it , his tone on the 175 will never make people forget Joe Pass or Jim Hall.

Who?

[GuitarGeek]

Ugh . Howe is a mediocre classical player . And come to think of it , his tone on the 175 will never make people forget Joe Pass or Jim Hall.

Well, yeah, so far as straight jazz or "classical" music goes, you're right. WHat Howe excelled at was taking things from different genres, ranging from jazz to "classical" to country, and blended into a creative whole that was very much his own. It was never about being able to go toe to toe with Tal Farlow, John Williams or James Burton, so much as coming up with something that avoided the cliches that had already started to permeate rock guitar playing at the time.

[GuitarGeek]

So I take this isn't the same Andrew Rudin who composed the electronic music piece Tragoedia, which was the second electronic music album commissioned and released by Nonesuch Records back in the 60's.

[N_Singh]

Well, yeah, so far as straight jazz or "classical" music goes, you're right. WHat Howe excelled at was taking things from different genres, ranging from jazz to "classical" to country, and blended into a creative whole that was very much his own. It was never about being able to go toe to toe with Tal Farlow, John Williams or James Burton, so much as coming up with something that avoided the cliches that had already started to permeate rock guitar playing at the time.

Agreed

[andrewrubinmusic]

Thank you for sharing Guitar Concerto, Henry! Yes, Jon really did co-write "Guitar Concerto" - I've had the pleasure of knowing him for many years. He is one of the nicest, genuine, coolest people ever.

It's so great to know that this little independently-produced piece is making the rounds on the internet. If anyone has any questions about the piece, Jon's involvement, or anything at all - ask away! I'd be happy to answer.

Thanks for all your kind words, and for listening.
-a

[Sunlight Caller]

I really enjoy this piece Andrew, I have been playing it a great deal since Henry opened my eyes to it. Will there be further collaborations with Jon, a vocal piece would be interesting?

[andrewrubinmusic]

Thank you, Sunlight Caller!

Yes, there will be future collaborations. We have a good amount of unreleased music already, including two more Guitar Concertos!

A few years ago Jon performed guest vocals on my former band's song, (à la "We Have Heaven")

Listen to it here!

Also, here is an interview with Jon explaining the creation of Guitar Concerto.

https://youtu.be/ZD8-OvpaShc

[2steves]

Well, yeah, so far as straight jazz or "classical" music goes, you're right. WHat Howe excelled at was taking things from different genres, ranging from jazz to "classical" to country, and blended into a creative whole that was very much his own. It was never about being able to go toe to toe with Tal Farlow, John Williams or James Burton, so much as coming up with something that avoided the cliches that had already started to permeate rock guitar playing at the time.

So true---cliche he is not---what this piece made me think is how sad JA and Howe can't work together---they are soul mates musically and this sounded like something JA and Howe might have been able to work into a Yes epic.

This boy can play a nice sounding guitar a la Howe---very nice---enjoyed the song with a more rock approach too.

[Wounded Land]

Who?

Two of the greatest jazz guitarists ever to live.

[bondegezou]

Thank you for sharing Guitar Concerto, Henry! Yes, Jon really did co-write "Guitar Concerto" - I've had the pleasure of knowing him for many years. He is one of the nicest, genuine, coolest people ever.

It's so great to know that this little independently-produced piece is making the rounds on the internet. If anyone has any questions about the piece, Jon's involvement, or anything at all - ask away! I'd be happy to answer.

Thanks, Andrew. Very much enjoying the (first) guitar concerto and look forward to more. Let us know when more work emerges.

Can you talk about the process of creating instrumental music with someone primarily known as a vocalist. Did you get together and write on guitars, or did Anderson vocalise parts that you have since arranged for some instrument?

Henry

[jake]

Two of the greatest jazz guitarists ever to live.

^^^^ Understatement of the year! Actually the word 'jazz' is superfluous in that sentence.

[andrewrubinmusic]

Thanks, Andrew. Very much enjoying the (first) guitar concerto and look forward to more. Let us know when more work emerges.

Can you talk about the process of creating instrumental music with someone primarily known as a vocalist. Did you get together and write on guitars, or did Anderson vocalise parts that you have since arranged for some instrument?

Henry

Thanks Henry. Although he doesn't read or write music or is formally "trained", Jon has an uncanny ability to conceive musical form and structure due to years of listening to classical music; he introduced me to composers like Sibelius, Rodrigo, Stravinsky, etc.

Later when listening to Yes music, I thought no wonder! It became very clear how Classical was an enormous influence on their structure and long-form pieces.


We sketched out the whole thing on two guitars in his studio. He doesn't play lead guitar, just chords + rhythm. So he would often sing melodies, or throw out suggestions that I'd work with like "ok, you've played in this key for a while... now modulate." or "That chord doesn't work, try going up 3 frets." or "you need a new movement here, it'll be like a dance piece." or "The orchestra should stop playing here and you'll take a solo." It felt all very spontaneous, but he always had a clear direction .

Later, I added all the orchestration for the piece. The way Jon hears musical ideas in his head is amazing. Part of me is convinced he's from another planet.

[Kcrimso]

Thanks Henry. Although he doesn't read or write music or is formally "trained", Jon has an uncanny ability to conceive musical form and structure due to years of listening to classical music; he introduced me to composers like Sibelius, Rodrigo, Stravinsky, etc.

Later when listening to Yes music, I thought no wonder! It became very clear how Classical was an enormous influence on their structure and long-form pieces.


We sketched out the whole thing on two guitars in his studio. He doesn't play lead guitar, just chords + rhythm. So he would often sing melodies, or throw out suggestions that I'd work with like "ok, you've played in this key for a while... now modulate." or "That chord doesn't work, try going up 3 frets." or "you need a new movement here, it'll be like a dance piece." or "The orchestra should stop playing here and you'll take a solo." It felt all very spontaneous, but he always had a clear direction .

Later, I added all the orchestration for the piece. The way Jon hears musical ideas in his head is amazing. Part of me is convinced he's from another planet.

Thanks. That is very cool to hear. I believe people often tend to underestimate the influence Jon Anderson has had on Yes music.

Oh, and I very much enjoyed the Guitar Concerto. CD release with some additional music would be nice.

[bondegezou]

We sketched out the whole thing on two guitars in his studio. He doesn't play lead guitar, just chords + rhythm. So he would often sing melodies, or throw out suggestions that I'd work with like "ok, you've played in this key for a while... now modulate." or "That chord doesn't work, try going up 3 frets." or "you need a new movement here, it'll be like a dance piece." or "The orchestra should stop playing here and you'll take a solo." It felt all very spontaneous, but he always had a clear direction .

That's really interesting -- thanks.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

Very interesting to hear how that collaboration works.

Jon Anderson is a strange cat, but there's no denying his vision and talent. It's good to see that he's finally seeing some of these projects to fruition, and that so many of them are bringing us quality material.

[Sunlight Caller]

Super interesting to hear a little of how Jon's mystical musical mind creates. I have never been in doubt that he is pivotal to creating the best Yes music, certainly my favourite Yes music is when he is at the helm. I'm hopeful for more of these collaborations though, as it seems he is at a productive creative place right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[andrewrubinmusic]

Very interesting to hear how that collaboration works.

Jon Anderson is a strange cat, but there's no denying his vision and talent. It's good to see that he's finally seeing some of these projects to fruition, and that so many of them are bringing us quality material.

Indeed, Scott. Interesting to hear you say "finally seeing projects to fruition" - have there been talk of other collaborations and projects I haven't been aware of? I've only heard of ARW and Anderson-Stolt projects.

[Scott Bails]

Indeed, Scott. Interesting to hear you say "finally seeing projects to fruition" - have there been talk of other collaborations and projects I haven't been aware of? I've only heard of ARW and Anderson-Stolt projects.

Henry's website, http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm, has more details, but yes, he's had a few that he's talked about over the years that he's never quite been able to follow through on. Specifically, he's talked about Zamran, the sequel to Olias of Sunhillow; an orchestral Tales from Topographic Oceans, etc.

His collaboration with Jean-Luc Ponty wasn't exactly smooth in its execution. And ARW has been talked about for a few years now, so it was great to see that finally happen.