Guitar Emporium

Miguel Llobets arrangement ofthe Catalan Christmas Folk Song - " the son of the mother" - was apparently popularised by Seqovia who played it as an encore in recitals.  Support the show

Bert Jansch's folk version of the Gustav Holst melody is one of my favourite Christmas tunes. " In the Bleak Midwinter " is a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti . It was published under the title " A Christmas Carol " in the January 1872 issue of Scribner's Monthly , [1] [2] and first collected in book form in Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress and Oth...

The two tunes interchange in this version for acoustic bass and two guitars Support the show

The wiki bit : Carol of the Bells " is a popular Christmas carol , which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song " Shchedryk ". The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in or before 1916; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by American composer of Ukrainian origin Peter Wilhousky . A generation know it from t...

The great anthem from the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan was composed by MacGowan and Jim Finer. The song doesn't seem to age at all - but seems to have had quite a long path to being fully realised. It was finally released in 1987. I love the music and hope this version is an OK instrumental version. Support the show

The beautiful last movement of the Christmas Concerto arranged for 4 guitars. Support the show

As I upload this Carol the lights in Bethlehem are being celebrated for the first time in two years as those in the occupied territories feel safe enough to publicly commemorate the Christmas season  Support the show

Greg Lakes take on Christmas is almost an anti - Christmas song. I've tried to capture the spirit of his wonderful music for those almost alarming Christmas sentiments. Support the show

We got to start sometime ... and I've held it back for quite a while.  I still love the Christmas season - its a celebration when most people feel celebratory. Have a good one. Wisjhing you a good Christmas Season and a peaceful 2026. Support the show

A baroque composer chronologically but seen as an influence on classical type developments. Support the show

Segovia's amazing recording of this piece still dominates the horizon.  Support the show

Julian Bream's arrangement of the famous Purcell Rondo starts the short sequence of Baroque pieces for guitar. Support the show

A direct contemporary of J.S.Bach, Weiss was the great lutenist of his age. Support the show

A piece I've enjoyed playing for many years - John Dowland composed a number of these free form lute pieces. Support the show

Its full title is "Fantasia - which imitates the harp in the style of Ludovico". In the second section of the piece the comment against the manuscript is " this doesn't sound so bad when well played" - I hope my version is not too far from what was intended.   Support the show

Someone who habitually takes on burdensome or unpleasant tasks or unreasonable amounts of work. I feel that may be me on many occasions - God only knows why I do it. Support the show

Driving East on the A303 one morning I need some fuel. I stop at a service station and get out to fill up. A van pulls up next to me . A man gets out the passenger side says to me " What' your name?" - Thinking I've got some nutter here I say " What's your name" He replies " I'm Neil and I'm drunk" - "I'm Richard " I reply. Supp...

This is a tribute to Django's clarinet player and his brothers who provided the rhythm section for so may of his tunes. Support the show

Back to a Django piece. A reheasal recording - getting Clive to launch into one of his improvisations.  Support the show

My factually unfounded theory that the Brazilian composer based the guitar Prelude no.3 on the playing of Django Reinhardt rather than the well supported view that the piece was influenced by the music of J.S Bach. Support the show

Continuing "Django week" with Predicament = OK there's some synth in there but essentially its the same style. Support the show

Following on from Django - listening to Birelli Lagrene and Philip Catherine - both jazz players but slightly away from the Reinhardt style - Walk it Off Support the show

Djangle - another Django Reinhardt influenced tune Support the show

I first came across Django Reinhardts music when I was about 20 - the energy and the good time feel of his playing was wonderful. For a while I had the opportunity to work with a great bass player - Clive - who could  improvise - something I do - but not like he does.  This is a rehearsal recording ( a bit of tuning in the intro ) but then off he goes - great stuff. This starts a week of this &quo...

A second instrumental from 2024 - Make your own choice - I'm about as indecisive as it gets and very often - no always - can be persuaded to change direction. Oh dear. Support the show