David Leisner’s long-awaited book on ergonomic technique for the guitar and other instruments as well is now available from Oxford University Press and Amazon. Playing with Ease: a healthy approach to guitar technique” intends to set a new standard for the literature on this subject.
Reviewing Leisner’s performance on August 9, 2018, at the Portland Chamber Music Festival, former New York Times critic Allan Kozinn reported in the Portland Press Herald: “David Leisner, a superb guitarist (and also an eloquent composer) who is chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music, delivered a crisply articulated, sweetly singing account of the guitar line and made its difficult stretches seem almost easy.”
Playing with Ease: a healthy approach to guitar technique is the name of the new book by David Leisner, to be released by Oxford University Press. The official release date is October 15, 2018, although advance copies may be ordered here for delivery in late September.
David Leisner has joined the roster of teaching artists at tonebase, a new platform for educating guitarists about specific aspects of technique, interpretation and repertoire. His first two videos on Villa-Lobos’ Etude 8 and 12 have just been released. This is the beginning of a series he will do on all 12 of the Etudes. https://tonebase.co
The superb Brasil Guitar Duo has just released their latest CD on CAG Records, and the title of the album is the same as David Leisner’s piece on it, Ghosting. The piece was written for and dedicated to the Brasil Guitar Duo and commissioned by Symphony Space in New York. More info on the CD may be found on the CAG website.
Love Dreams of the Exile, a 17-minute work for flute, guitar and string quartet has been published by Theodore Presser Co. The piece is based on Sephardic folk songs and was recorded on the much-acclaimed Cedille CD, Sephardic Journey, by the Cavatina Duo and the Avalon String Quartet. Score and parts may be purchased here.
At the premiere of Vapors for solo viola, George Grella of the New York Concert Review reported: “Each movement opened simply and grew more complex. The first, “Falling,” created a haunting sensation of stillness, while the tough, fast music of “Floating” riveted the attention.”
On January 4, 5 and 6, Mark Holloway will give the World premiere of David Leisner’s Vapors for solo viola at Bargemusic in Brooklyn, New York. The two-movement work is inspired by New Mexico artist, Constance DeJong and one of her Nitrate Paintings.
Music Video Friday feature on The Tannhäuser Gate features a lovely tribute to David Leisner, calling him “a magnificent guitarist, as well as a composer of great feeling and integrity”, and featuring a live performance of the Bach Chaconne.
Writing for San Francisco Classical Voice, Scott Cmiel reported about David Leisner’s concert for the South Bay Guitar Society in early October 2016: “Leisner’s technical command, emotional intensity, and intellectual ability make him an ideal interpreter of this music [Ginastera Sonata]…Leisner is an absolute master of this material and his performance made pieces I have heard countless times spring to life [Villa-Lobos Etudes].” Later in the month, Blair Jackson, chief editor of…