Concert Review: David Leisner - Calgary Society of Classical Guitar

April 20, 2013 - Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB

We attended the concert of classical guitarist David Leisner as a last minute thing to do on a Saturday night. And what an event to attend!

Amazingly, David treated and rehabilitated himself and others from a focal dystonia, which is normally devastating to the abilities of a musician, especially a guitarist or pianist. 

David lives up to the bill of some of the descriptions of his exceptional talent:

"DAVID LEISNER is an extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted career as an electrifying performing artist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher."

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“Among the finest guitarists of all time”, according to American Record Guide"

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"Mr. Leisner has also become a highly respected composer noted for the emotional and dramatic power of his music. Fanfare magazine described it as “rich in invention and melody, emotionally direct, and beautiful”. Guitar Review wrote, “Not many composers manage to be equally satisfying to the hands, the ear and the mind as Leisner has.”

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David plays a John Gilbert guitar and uses D'Addario Strings exclusively.

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David Leisner Performs Bach 

The Playlist:

1. Lute Suite in a minor, BVW 997 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) arr. D. Leisner

• Preluse
• Fugue
• Sarabande (my wife's favourite)
• Gigue
• Double (my favourite in this suite)

2. Labyrinths (2007) - D. Leisner (b. 1953)

- Leisner described his inspiration as the quiet and stillness in nature, but the intricacies that you see the longer you observe this stillness.

- I could see this as a theme in a Quintin Tarantino movie.  

• Shimmer
• Shadow
• Shiver
• Shatter
• Shelter

3. Felicidade - Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994) arr. Roland Dyens; ed. D. Leisner

- lively Spanish flamenco style

4. Nocturnal, op. 70 (1963) - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

• Musingly
• Very agitated
• Restless
• UneasyMarch-like
• Dreaming
• Gently rocking
• Passsacaglia
• Slow and quiet (Theme)

5. Three Etudes (1928) - Heitor Villa-Lobos

• No. 7 in E major
• No. 8 in c# minor
• No. 12 in a minor

Encore performance

6. Tarantella - Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856)

"He (Leisner) was also a pioneer in the rediscovery of Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856), whose music he recorded on The Viennese Guitar (Titanic) and edited for publication by theTheodore Presser Company, as well as Wenzeslaus Matiegka (1773-1830), whose music he recorded on an Azica CD to be released in the early fall of 2008."

*What a way to end of this night. A beautifully played, emotionally charged rendition of a lesser revered classical guitarist - JK Mertz. 

Brilliant performance!

His website: http://www.davidleisner.com/ 

David Leisner - Classical Guitar Society of Calgary April 20, 2013

SE Guitar Congress, David Leisner 01 (Photo credit: Larry Miller)

Classical Guitar Society of Calgary - since 1974:

"David Leisner is an extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted career as an electrifying performing artist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher. Regarded as one of the world's leading classical guitarists, his superb musicianship and provocative programming have been applauded by critics and audiences around the world. He has been acclaimed as "a triple-threat performer" by The New York Times and a "serious, exploratory and imaginative musician" by The Boston Globe."

Concert at Mount Royal University, Calgary - attended April 20th, 2013.

Link to his website: http://www.davidleisner.com

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Whispers in the Dark- Guitar Lesson- Mumford & Sons (Todd Downing)

Sigh No More (Mumford & Sons album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Super ecstatic to hear of announcement of the Mumford and Sons Calgary to Telluride Tour kicking off in, well, Calgary on May 21st, 2013. Unfortunately, tickets are a touch commodity to come by. 

In the spirit of that, here's a video acoustic guitar lesson from Todd Downing/Youtube.

"This is an easy and fairly accurate way to play Whispers in the Dark by Mumford & Sons on guitar 
(Lesson / Tutorial ) Thanks for watching! You Rock!"


CHORDs: 


Intro and Pre Chorus -----------------
------------------
---9----7----11
---0----0-----0
---x----x-----x
---9----7----12


Verse D A Bm A G Bm D A (2x)

Chorus G D A D (4x) A D G D (2x)

Under the Son part:

-----------------------------
-----------------------------
--9---11---9----11--6---
--0----0----0-----0---0--
--x-------------------------
--9---12---9----12--7--

Instrumental part: G D A D

Lyrics: Whispers in the Dark:

You hold your truth so purely
Well swerve not through the minds of manThis lie is dead

And this cup of yours tastes holyBut a brush with the Devilcan clear your mindAnd strengthen your spine


But fingers tap into what you were onceAnd I'm worried that I blew my only chance

Whispers in the darkSteal a kiss and you'll break your heartPick up your clothes and curl your toesLearn your lesson, lead me home


Spare my sins for the arkI was too slow to departI'm a cad but I'm not a fraudI'd set out to serve the Lord

But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head but found the one that I loveUnder the sun, under the sun

But fingers tap into what you were onceAnd I'm worried that I blew my only chanceFingers tap into what you were onceAnd I'm worried that I blew my only chance


But my heart was colder when you'd goneAnd I lost my headLet's live while we are youngWhile we are young, while we are youngWhile we are young



From: SongMeanings.net

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