Dear friends
Covid-19 is dangerously impacting the social-economic category of musicians. No concerts, poor political and social consideration, uncertain earnings. As a consequence, an ever-growing number of musicians, especially those from the experimental area, are trying to promote their music on BandCamp in digital format only. It is increasingly difficult for me to follow and review this incredible flow of music. I therefore decided to open this section on my blog Neuguitars where I propose music in digital format that I consider particularly interesting and worthy of attention. I hope you like it. Let’s support musicians. They need it.
Andrea Aguzzi
Guitarist Dan Lippel performs actively in many contexts, as a solo artist, and with the International Contemporary Ensemble), counter)induction, FretX duo, Con Vivo Music, Flexible Music, Wavefield, Classical Cafe, Flexible Music, Collage Project, and eclectic indie group Mice Parade. He’s also owner/director of New Focus Recordings
Bach Aufs Lautenwerk by Daniel Lippel, New Focus Recordings, 2021 on #neuguitars #blog
“Aufs Lautenwerk” is a recording of three of J.S. Bach’s works (Lute Suites 1 and 2 and Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro) on a Well Tempered guitar fretted in Kirnberger III temperament. Hearing these well known works in their original keys and in a period temperament allows us to hear the specific affect of different keys and the subtle intervallic differences that frame the harmonic relationships within those keys. The album is a co-release with John Schneider’s MicroFest Records label and New Focus Recordings.
This Bandcamp edition of the album includes a bonus EP of two premiere recordings of contemporary works by Peter Adriaansz and Ken Ueno that also engage with microtonality, from the post-equal temperament end of the spectrum.
Adriaansz’ “Serenades II to IV” for three electric guitars and electric bass is a Sonic Youth inspired addition to a repertoire for layered guitars that traces back to Steve Reich’s iconic “Electric Counterpoint.”
Ueno’s “Ghost Flower” is written in an overtone based alternate tuning built from a detuned low C string, traveling from non-pitched techniques in the introduction through a moto perpetuo texture that emphasizes a series of pitch centers suggested by the tuning.
“Aufs Lautenwerk” will be available in CD format (without the Bonus EP) on 5/21 on the regular retail platforms (Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Arkiv Music, HB Direct, Naxos Direct) as well as on this site.
credits
released May 7, 2021
Aufs Lautenwerk:
Produced by Dan Lippel and John Schneider
Engineered and edited by John Schneider
Mastered by Ryan Streber
Artwork: Jasper McMahon
Photos: Andrew Fingland (Lippel photo), Felix Salazar (guitar photo), Jose Luis Tamez (lautenwerk photo)
Recorded at Earthstar Creation Center, Venice, CA Jan. 6-8, 2017
Guitar by Walter Vogt
Peter Adriaansz’ Serenades II to IV (No. 23)
Electric guitars/bass guitar: Dan Lippel
Mastered by Ryan Streber
Serenade II:
Produced by Dan Lippel and Ryan Streber
Engineered, edited and mixed by Ryan Streber
Recorded at Oktaven Audio, Mt. Vernon, NY, Nov. 27, 2018
Serenades III and IV and Dystopian Reprise:
Produced by Dan Lippel and David Crowell
Engineered, edited and mixed by David Crowell
Recorded at Crowell Ditmas Studios May 25, 2019 (Serenade III), June 7-8, 2019 (Serenade IV and Dystopian Reprise)
Thanks to Pete Harden for his generous information regarding the performance realization of Serenades II to IV
Ken Ueno’s Ghost Flower
Session Producer: Ryan Streber
Edit Producer: Dan Lippel
Engineer: Ryan Streber
Edited by Dan Lippel
Mastered by Ryan Streber
Recorded at Oktaven Audio, Mt. Vernon, NY, Jan. 16, 2021
NeuGuitars 