New Transcription & Fingering: Passacaille, G.F. Handel, New Masterclass

I can still remember the day I first heard this marvelous work. I was a newly wed driving near the Paraguay River with my wife and I put the CD in the car stereo... the masterworks played by David Russell followed each other in an endless procession of beauty but it wasn't until I heard the marvelous Handel's Passacaille that I was totally taken with joy and beauty. Learning the piece has since been on my "to do list" and I decided to work it in this past Summer while vacationing in Uruguay. Today I decided to finally make videos, animations and develop the online masterclass for the work. I just uploaded the first staff with video and David Russell'samazing rendition of the work from 1989 -Baroque Music 1989 GHA, Belgium - 126006- A perfect work in the hands of a true master of the guitar.

Handel is in my opinion Bach twin on all fronts. Let alone that they were contemporary and knew of each other, both hand an intimate personal relationship with our Lord and their music reflect this in every measure that they composed. 

Passacaglia (In Spanish: Pasacalle; Italian: Passacaglia) derives from the Spanish pasar -to walk- and calle -street-. It first appeared in the 17th century. It is a interlude between instrumentally accompanied dances or songs. Despite its Spanish roots, the first Passacaglias are found in Italy around 1600. These pieces, are simple, brief sequences of chords outlining a cadential formula which is the best scenario to embark on a variational project.

Visit the masterclass here→