Fantasia No. 16 - Luys Milán Luis Milán was one of the most important figures of the Spanish vihuela tradition and the author of El Maestro (1536), the first known printed collection of instrumental music in Spain. Conceived as a didactic work, El Maestro presents its pieces in a carefully graded order of difficulty and preserves music that Milán tells us originated as improvisation on the vihuela. Fantasia 16 belongs to a later group of works that Milán describes as consonancias y redobles. These pieces alternate between chordal passages (consonancias) and rapid scalar or figural runs (redobles), a style associated with dedillo technique. Milán gives unusually explicit performance instructions: the chordal sections should be played with a slow compás, while the running passages should be fast, with slight pauses at fermatas (coronado). This approach prioritizes expressive contrast and gallant delivery (tañer de gala) over mechanical regularity. Like the earlier fantasias, Fantasia 16 moves freely through modal ambitus rather than adhering to a fixed tonal center, and its rhythmic flexibility can result in frequent changes of perceived meter when transcribed into modern notation. Played on a Michael Gee guitar.

Is this site going to disappear into the dessert like a horse with no name? ==== I've been through the desert; On a horse with no name; It felt good to be out of the rain; In the desert, you can't remember your name; 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain;

Excited to share a couple works by Enríquez de Valderrábano. ‘Soneto Lombardo a Manera de Danza’, from Valderrábano’s ‘Silva de Sirenas’ (1547), is a stylized dance derived from an Italian pavana. Versions of the same melody appear in German and French lute and organ sources. Valderrábano’s setting transforms this dance melody into a refined vihuela idiom, combining graceful rhythmic motion with elegant harmonic writing. ‘Fantasia 19’ is one of a number of works Valderrábano based on pre-existing vocal models. This fantasia is explicitly identified as a parody of the post-Kyrie from Josquin des Prez’s ‘Missa De Beata Virgine’. Rather than a literal transcription, Valderrábano reshapes the polyphonic source into a richly idiomatic solo work. The result is a fantasia that balances studied counterpoint with expressive freedom, illustrating both the vihuelist’s deep engagement with the most innovative Franco-Flemish repertory of his time and the Renaissance ideal of parody as a form of respectful transformation. Played on a Michael Gee guitar.

CLASSICAL GUITAR VIRTUAL OPEN MIC SUNDAY, January 25, 2026 STARTING TIME: 12:00 PM MOUNTAIN TIME (USA and CANADA) o Compare your time zone here: www.thetimezoneconverter.com · Meeting ID: 891 0524 0840 · Password: 2026Guitar https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89105240840 · Meeting is locked at 12:05 PM Mountain Time Please read all guidelines before joining: · Open to everyone of all skill levels and newcomers are welcome. Most of our participants have mid-beginner to intermediate skills. · You do not need to be an experienced performer. o Be PREPARED. Honest mistakes due to nerves are one thing. Trying to read through a piece which is not yet truly ready for a performance is a different matter. · Add (Observer) to your name if you would like to attend without performing a piece. · This is an opportunity for you to grow and learn to get comfortable playing in front of others on a regular basis in an informal environment where mistakes are allowed. · The session includes brief introductions and then performing before the group. There will be a brief time for constructive feedback after each performance. · Performing time is generally up to 10 minutes. Sets can be longer depending on how many people are participating on the date. · Playing the same piece(s) that you already played in previous meetings is perfectly fine. · Have “Original Sound for Musicians” ON. This is usually in the upper right corner of your screen. · We will do a quick sound-check beforehand to make sure your sound is coming through clearly. UPDATED ZOOM OPEN MIC SCHEDULE – Winter/Spring 2026 We will hold Zoom Open Mic sessions on: · Jan 25 · Feb 08 · Mar 08 · Apr 12 · May 17 · June 07

Here is more from the wonderful Rob MacKillop