New GSI Videos by Joshua Moore!

Joshua Moore recently visited GSI and recorded five videos. Josh is a frequent performer, both as a classical and jazz guitarist. He has performed throughout the US and Canada for many guitar societies and classical music series. Josh holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts, with a minor in Jazz Guitar from the University of Southern California where he studied under Scott Tennant and Bill Kanengiser. Josh is a full-time faculty member of the Northern Arizona University Kitt School of Music. At NAU, Josh directs the guitar program as well as teaches classes and coaches ensembles in the Jazz Studies Department.

"Valseana" is the second movement of "Aquarelle", a suite for guitar written by composer and guitarist Sérgio Assad in 1986. The suite has three movements: Divertimento, Valseana, and Preludio e Toccatina. The title "Aquarelle" (meaning "watercolor" in French) reflects the impressionistic and colorful nature of the pieces, evoking different moods and textures."Valseana" contrasts with the more energetic "Divertimento" and the virtuosic "Preludio e Toccatina."

This was recorded on a 2024 Valerio Licari "Albayzín" classical guitar made with cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

"Cradle Song" is another piece composed by Sérgio Assad. The first of three movements, it is a gentle piece. As the title suggests, the music portrays the soothing and intimate atmosphere of a lullaby. With its lyrical melody, soft harmonies, and subtle rhythmic flexibility, the piece invites the listener into a peaceful, reflective state. This was recorded on a 2024 Jake Fuller "Purnell" classical guitar made with spruce top and CSA rosewood back and sides.

John Dowland, a key figure in Renaissance music, is celebrated for his lute compositions that combine technical mastery with emotional depth. "A Fancy, P. 73" is one of his imaginative, free-form works, allowing for fluid exploration of melodic ideas and intricate counterpoint. Unlike the structured dance forms common in Dowland’s output, the "fancy" is characterized by its open, improvisatory nature. This piece showcases Dowland’s command of polyphony, with intertwining melodic lines that require the performer to carefully balance voices and express shifting moods. Though elegant and often introspective, "A Fancy" reflects the melancholic tone typical of Dowland’s style. This piece was recorded on a 2024 Wolfgang Jellinghaus "La Romantica A" guitar made with spruce top and granadillo back and sides.

Sir William Walton, one of the most celebrated British composers of the 20th century, composed the "Five Bagatelles" for solo guitar in 1971, dedicating the pieces to his friend, guitarist Julian Bream. Originally conceived as a set of light, short pieces, these bagatelles explore a wide range of emotions and guitar techniques, blending Walton’s classical influences with his distinct modern voice. Joshua performs the third movement, ‘Alla Cubana’, on a 1969 Jose Ramirez "1a AM" classical guitar made with cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

Manuel Ponce, often regarded as the father of Mexican classical music, made significant contributions to the guitar repertoire, largely thanks to his collaboration with Spanish guitar virtuoso Andrés Segovia. "Sonata III", composed in 1927, is one of Ponce’s three major guitar sonatas, each reflecting his blend of Mexican folk elements, European classical forms, and the influence of Spanish guitar traditions. Here Joshua performs the first movement ‘Allegro Moderato’ on a 2024 Colin van Aelbrouck classical guitar made with cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides.