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Starkland5
Symphony in 18 parts / for solo electric guitar
Tim Brady, electric guitar
Starkland, 2023
The electric guitar, a cornerstone of the rock and metal worlds, is often overlooked as a classical instrument. On Symphony in 18 parts, Tim Brady challenges this oversight by evoking specific scenes, characters, and narratives through 18 masterful compositions.
The first track, for instance, starts with an isolated, powerful, crunchy guitar strum—the sound of a rock star on stage playing to a live audience. While there’s no crowd to respond to the guitar, Brady so accurately recreates the note and its intonation that the moment is instantly recognizable. He then launches into a passionate solo that alternates between fast-paced, dense patterns and a slower, hypnotic, wave-like melody.
Each subsequent track offers a unique experience. The second track makes more use of the amp’s echo to leave gentler notes suspended and echoing. The third piece, meanwhile, sounds almost as though the track has been reversed, and the fourth is reminiscent of an acoustic guitarist improvising a song around a campfire.
Although Brady may not be creating the symphonies of yesteryear, his careful attention to amplification, strumming and fingerpicking patterns, challenging melodies, and tone create a symphonic palette of imagery and innovation. Classical composers, take notes.
This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
