American Threads | Balmer plays Wallace and more
Jamie Balmer’s American Threads features solo guitar music by Kevin Callahan, Phillip de Fremery, Frederic Hand, Thomas Schuttenhelm, and Frank Wallace alongside Balmer’s arrangements for solo guitar of music by Elliott Smith, Edward MacDowell, and Leonard Bernstein
More Meditations and Prayers
Meditations being the theme of this post, I add a video of Rain in VT as recorded by Dieter Hennings, professor of music at University of Kentucky. Dear Dieter posted this during the past week in an
My Roots as a Composer | necessity and education
A couple of years ago, a young guitarist from Vanguard University wrote to say that he is a fan. He was preparing a presentation on me as a living composer/guitarist, and asked if I would help with
Cancer | I am the Gryphon
I wrote this post last October after failed retina surgery and a positive prostate biopsy. My prognosis has progressed as has my psychology about death, fear and career. But this stage was a difficult and important one.
Single String Etude #6 | more thumb melody
Watch the entire playlist at YouTube, or read all the corresponding blogs here. Thanks to Aaron Green for the use of this beautiful 1939 Hauser guitar. Review of the basic principles (notes from the edition) Even in
Lost Dogs | Fear or Joy?
Between October 2018 and April 2019, I lived in limbo. I wrote this story at that time. I recently learned I had two forms of cancer. We watched both with regular checkups, not knowing if or when
Polyphonic basics | how to make voices clear | Part I
In my video/blogs about Single String Etudes I, I repeatedly spoke of rest stroke on melody, free stroke on accompaniment. We discussed the essential rotation of the forearm to aid the angle of fingers so that thumb
Sacred Music by Frank A. Wallace, Part II
Daily life is sacred This video by my son Adam Wallace uses my playing of Reverence, Prayer #3 from Six Prayers on Six Strings to accompany his gorgeous photos of the High Line in New York City.
The art of listening | a new Elemental CD review
A Proud Papa There’s lyricism, meditative reflection, sharp assertiveness, gorgeous billows of harmony, bursts of sparkling, ringing harmonics; there’s boldness and even brashness, juxtaposed with the most tender warmth and delicacy. Wallace leads us along, never leaving
Sacred Music by Frank A. Wallace, part I
Daily Prayer #3 My mind is one with God My body is one with God My soul is God My roots are spiritual As I have mentioned in a Coming out with Cancer, my current bible is
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