One of America's greatest living composers, David Del Tredici, has just completed a
4-movement, 30-minute solo piece on commission for David Leisner.  David raised the
funds privately.  He first asked Del Tredici for a 10-minute work, which then expanded
quickly to a half-hour!  The piece, with title yet to be determined, contains two fugues (!)
and will be premiered on the Guitar Plus series at Symphony Space in New York on
April 29.  Also featured on the program is harpist Yolanda Kondonassis.  For more details,
please see the
Guitar Plus page.













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Angelo Gilardino's intelligent, perceptive review of David Leisner's new Matiegka CD
appeared in the November issue of the Italian music magazine,
Suonare.  Gilardino
reported:  "What sets David Leisner apart is the refinement of his phrasing, which he imbues
with clear, convincing and original intentions...His playing is authoritative, without trying to
appear so. And he succeeds marvelously, taking us through this entire recording without a
single dull moment."  For the full review,
click here.  (Scroll down to "Complete reviews")
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Merion Music/Theodore Presser Co. has just agreed to publish ALL of David Leisner's
currently unpublished compositions.  This includes an orchestra piece, many vocal and
chamber works and, of course, a number of works that include the guitar.  They will be
released a few at a time.  Both Presser Co. and Leisner are proud to deepen their association
for the future.  Stay tuned for further details.
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David's recent appearance at the Lidköping Music Festival in Sweden garnered a rave
review from the local critic, Bo Borg.  Here are a couple of excerpts:  "The evening began
with last year's favorite, American guitar ace David Leisner. He played the Bach
Chaconne
in a way that merged emotion and intellect into an alloy that can best be described as high
art.  Perhaps the greatest reward of his concert on Monday evening was when he introduced
the music of the Czech (and incomprehensibly unknown) composer Wenzeslaus Matiegka
(1773-1830).  Rarely does one hear more rhythmically varied and beautiful music...Leisner
showed once again [in the Villa-Lobos
Etudes] that he is a musician that can make the
impossible sound completely natural and 'close'.  This can only be achieved by the greats."  
For the full review,
click here.  (Scroll down to "Complete reviews")      
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David's latest CD, Matiegka, the Beethoven of the Guitar, has received its first review.
American Record Guide reports:   "You will not be disappointed in this music or this
performance...Leisner plays with the excellence we've come to expect.  He is an assertive,
sensitive, inventive, creative musician.  He's discovered some truly substantial music in
Matiegka, and he is delighted to share his enthusiasm."
 Leisner believes Wenzeslaus
Matiegka (1773-1830 ) to be one of the most important guitar composers, if not
the most
important, of the 19th century.   For more information on the CD, including where to buy it,

click here
.      
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    The latest review of Classics and Discoveries, David Leisner's
    new concert DVD, appeared in Guitar Review.  Critic Jim
    Tosone wrote:  "My first thought on viewing Classics &
    Discoveries was that I would watch it once or twice more.  I'm
    already up to five viewings, for there is something magical about
    watching a master guitarist performing these works."  For more
    information on this DVD, click here.



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iTunes now has all of David's solo CDs on the Azica label, as well as his Naxos recording of
the Hovhaness
Concerto.  Click here for more info.  
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David's recent article for Guitar Review, "Curing Focal Dystonia, or How to Play the Guitar
with Large Muscles", is now up on this website.  It is the only published work so far that
contains up-to-date details on David's groundbreaking ideas about engaging the large muscles
for playing the guitar, as well as other instruments.  To read the article,
click here.  
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David's most recent performances of the Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez were with
Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.  The review in the
Cedar Rapids Gazette
was a rave:

Classical guitarist shines in orchestra concert

"David Leisner on Saturday night showed why he is considered one of the finest classical
guitarists in the world.
Leisner joined Maestro Timothy Hankewich and the Cedar Rapids Symphony/ Orchestra
Iowa in a memorable performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s
Concierto de Aranjuez.
Displaying a superb command of his instrument, Leisner played with a vibrancy and flair
that was a perfect complement to the symphony.  His musical dialogue with the violins and
cellos was crisp and clean.
The audience in Sinclair Auditorium responded with generous applause, showing their
appreciation for a true musical artist."
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Mucony.com is a new website where you can download half-hour videos of private lessons
and keep them for a month, for only $5 each.  David has four lessons on the site so far.  
One is about getting rid of physical tensions, called Playing with Ease, there is one long
lesson split into two videos on Fernando Sor's
Introduction and Variations on a Theme by
Mozart, op. 9
, and a lesson on the Villa-Lobos Prelude No. 1.  To see a sample video and
to log in, please
click here.
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David Leisner has now joined MySpace Music.  A couple of CD clips are there.  Check it
out.


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