News & Info
Stanley Greenthal at ZoukFest!
Stanley recently completed a week of teaching and performing at ZoukFest 2008 at the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico (June 8-14, 2008). His class descriptions are below.
Fest Breizh: Music of Brittany
In this class, we’ll learn to play the haunting melodies and hypnotic dance tunes that accompany the ancient traditional circle and line dances, still practiced today in Brittany, a unique region that lies in the northwest of France. With the bouzouki as a musical thread, topics will include techniques for accompaniment and melody playing, and how to create solo and ensemble arrangements. Some knowledge of the bouzouki tuned GDAD is recommended, though all skill levels are welcome, as are players of both 8 and 10 string instruments. A capo is required, and students are encouraged to bring a recording device, as the class will be taught by ear. Students will come away with a number of beautiful tunes to work on at home for future musical exploration. Bouzouki chord sheets will be provided. While the bouzouki is the focus, players of all other instruments are very welcome and invited to attend. Depending upon participants’ interests, there will be an opportunity for an ensemble performance Saturday afternoon at the end of the week
Kafana: Music of the Balkans & Beyond
Welcome to the Balkan kafana, where we will follow an eastward course through Macedonia, Greece, Crete, Bulgaria, and Asia Minor, learning beautiful pieces from these timeless folk traditions. Again, the bouzouki will be the musical link, and topics will include accompaniment techniques, solo and ensemble arrangements, and learning melodies in familiar and less familiar time signatures (4/4, 6/8, 5/16, 7/16, 9/16 and more). While the bouzouki is the featured instrument, players of all other instruments are very welcome and invited to attend. Depending upon participants’ interests, there will be an opportunity for an ensemble performance Saturday afternoon at the end of the week.
