In the first half of August this year (2024), a week-long Põltsamaa Summer Guitar School (Camp) was held in the small fairytale Estonian town of Põltsamaa. Both excellent local Estonian guitar teachers and those from abroad were invited to conduct it.
I participated in it for a couple of days as a composer who had the honor of writing 2 pieces for a guitar ensemble. I also participated in the rehearsal of these pieces, told the students a little about the music and was very happy to hear and see so many hard-working and talented children.
The final concert was full of beautiful classical music, as well as modern popular pieces and improvisations.
The 2 above-mentioned pieces were: the first – Fears and Dreams and the 2nd – A Dance of Life (both for guitar ensemble, minimum 4 guitars). If the first was inspired by the paintings of Carl-W. Röhrig and consisted of the Prelude, Pagan Ritual (“A Solar Eclipse”) and Hot Air Balloons, then the second was based on the materials I had studied about Middle African traditional music.
The premiere was wonderful! Thank you very much to the amazing teacher and conductor Kirill Ogorodnikov, who devotes himself entirely to work and to the talented students who performed my music so beautifully and did a great job!
It was a wonderful 2 days in a nice city with responsive people and sunny weather! Thanks to the wonderful children, outstanding teachers, to all good organizers and warm audience! And of course, last but not least, to the parents who supported their children’s participation in this camp!
