Broken Compass (for Solo Guitar)

[His Lordship]

This is the latest piece of music I've written.

Broken Compass
for solo classical guitar,
dedicated to and performed by Giacomo Bigoni.

I find it very difficult to write for guitar, harder than for any other instrument.
The hardship lies in the fingerings and the limitations of the hand on the frets, and working out what's playable.
It's my biggest struggle as a composer I think, and this is my first real shot at it, but it won't be my last :)

This title comes from the idea of losing a sense of direction.
This music constantly meanders away from a dance-like accompaniment as if it were lost, and going around in circles.

Broken Compass - Eugene Marshall [2013]

Screenshot of the score as I was composing it.

[Patty]

I can respect this as a guitarist, although very far from the style I play. Very nicely written and played.

[His Lordship]

I can respect this as a guitarist, although very far from the style I play. Very nicely written and played.

Can you tell how good this guy is? He did the harmonics so damn flawlessly, and they aren't easy harmonics.
Also, what is *your* style of guitar then?

[Patty]

I can respect this as a guitarist, although very far from the style I play. Very nicely written and played.

Can you tell how good this guy is? He did the harmonics so damn flawlessly, and they aren't easy harmonics.
Also, what is *your* style of guitar then?

Yeah I can.

I can write you a huge list of influences if you want, but I'm heavily influenced by a lot of thrash metal guys. so a bit off classical :3. Although I do realise metal takes a lot of influence in classical music.

[Tappaga]

That was nicely performed, the music style reminds me of a game called Dark Cloud for some reason but i don't know why but it just does. :D *Likes*

[BeeBee]

That was nicely performed, the music style reminds me of a game called Dark Cloud for some reason but i don't know why but it just does. :D *Likes*

Fuck man. I remember playing the Demo of that on Ps2 when I was a kid. I loved it to bits so I went to "game" and "Gamestation" the big video game retailers to purchase it and I asked if they had it...turns out the game was too old so they didn't sell it anymore.

I cri everytiem.

[Leffe]

Nicely done

Curious though because I am a guitar player myself;

How do you write guitar parts as a composer? Do you grab a guitar yourself? I suppose you do to get a bit a feel? haha :P

Write something for me!

[His Lordship]

How do I write for guitar without being a guitarist?
No I don't grab a guitar, I just have to imagine the fretboard and use maths to calculate the frets I need and then to reasonably guess if it'll fit under the hand.