Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
-Red Auerbach-all time great hall of famer basketball coach of the Boston Celtics

It’s been since 05 that I wrote something in our diary. There are lots of excuses. Perhaps “I was busy putting out 7 albums since I last wrote” will satisfy? Here are the names, Where It Started, Tango for One-William Wilson, Good Day Sunshine, The Troubadour’s Table and two student projects by the Encinitas Guitar Orchestra (see www.encinitasguitarorchestra.com ). If you haven’t checked out our new releases they are all featured in the catalog with album descriptions and audio. Hot off the press is our newest release Beatles, Guitar Instrumentals-Peter Pupping & Fred Benedetti. In addition all of our music is now available on itunes and most download services throughout the world. Check us out in cyber space.

We’re Hip
All of our music is now available on itunes and most download services throughout the world. Check us out in cyber space.

Major corporate and VIP events, concerts

GuitarSounds artists have been busy performing concerts for the public, and for corporate and private parties. Some of our more memorable shows included 2 performances for Arnold Schwarzenegger, big showcase events for Lexus, Chrysler, Panasonic, Hewlett Packard to name a few and playing for our very, very important fans and loyal supporters at public venues. The Guitar Extravaganza was a hit at the Belly Up in 06. Jazz Festivals, dinner shows and concerts on the lawn are some of the places where we’ve been able to see you all personally. Thanks to our fans for all the encouragement of late. We love sharing our music with you!

New band photo

Finally after eight years we have a new band photo. Notice the hair on William’s and my face. We’re growing up!! (maybe)

Photo out take, “The Thinker” ? To muse or not to muse? I think the boys
already know answers!

Guitar Studio & Guitar Orchestra

William Wilson and I have started a guitar orchestra, now in its third year, for students and members of the community. We’ve explored Renaissance, Classical, various Latin (including Cuban), Celtic music to name a few. The richness of the interaction of various people of all ages and backgrounds has proved to produce a wonderful effect on the music. See more www.encinitasguitarorchestra.com.

www.GuitarGames.net

This year William Wilson created an amazing website to help students learn to read music, learn note location, rhythm, trivia and more. Brilliant games with lots to learn and lots of fun. Take a visit - no charge, all fun, lots of learning!
Teaching has become an important part of our careers and many good things are happening as a result. Lots of great up-and-coming players have been able to sit in with us at special events. Many of our students are enjoying opportunities to play in groups we organize and other musical experiences that sometimes include shadowing us at professional events.

Plans for the rest of 2007

-Sea Journey a new quartet album
-Big concert in the park:

Sunday, July 29, 2007, 5-7 pm
Peter Pupping Quartet-
Peter Pupping & William Wilson - guitars,
Jeff Basile - bass, Roy Gonzales - percussion

Concert on the Lawn
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Tickets available at the Inn or Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild
$10 adults, $5 kids
Questions contact Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild>

-more public performances (TBA)
-web site update, new pics, blogs, more albums and activity

Musings

The music of musicians often reflects their struggles, victories or hopes for better times. It can be celebratory, festive, light, mournful, physical, tender, militant, full of struggle and victory. I dare say Beethoven covered all of it. Here is his conclusion first, struggle and conclusion again:

Not wanting to be pitied Beethoven writes:

You must see me as happy as it is possible to be here below - not unhappy. No! I cannot endure it. I will take Fate by the throat, it shall not wholly overcome me. Oh! it is so beautiful to live - to live a thousand times.

Beethoven wrote expressively in his letters, perhaps as expressively as his music. Here are some excerpts of letters that conveys his agony, despair, and his unconquerable soul

“……… ..My heart and mind were ever from childhood prone to the most tender feelings of affection, and I was always disposed to accomplish something great. But you must remember that six years ago I was attacked by an incurable malady (deafness), aggravated by unskillful physicians, deluded from year to year, too, by the hope of relief, and at length forced to the conviction of a lasting affliction (the cure of which may go on for years, and perhaps after all prove impracticable)." - Heiligenstadt will

On 26th June 1801 in two letters to Wegeler he writes:

I can only say I am living a wretched life; for two years I have avoided almost all social gatherings because it is impossible for me to say to people: ‘I am deaf.’ If I belonged to any other profession it would be easier, but in my profession it is an awful state, the more since my enemies, who are not a few - what would they say? .......If possible, I will bid defiance to my fate, although there will be moments in my life when I shall be the unhappiest of God’s creatures.... I live only in my notes, and when one composition is scarcely ended, another is already begun. As I compose at present, I frequently work on three or four compositions at the same time.

Then Beethoven wrote again to Wegeler on November 16, 1801:

I am living more pleasantly since I live more amongst men. You will scarcely believe how lonely and sad my life was for two years; my bad hearing hunted me everywhere like a ghost, and I fled from mankind and seemed like a misanthrope, though far from being one. ……(and then) My physical strength has for a short time past been steadily growing more than ever and also my mental powers. Day by day I am approaching the goal which I apprehend but cannot describe. It is only in this that your Beethoven can live. Tell me nothing of rest. ... Grant me but half freedom from my affliction and then - as a complete, ripe man I shall return to you and renew the old feelings of friendship. You must see me as happy as it is possible to be here below - not unhappy. No! I cannot endure it. I will take Fate by the throat, it shall not wholly overcome me. Oh! it is so beautiful to live - to live a thousand times.

Once again I am inspired as the muse never ends. There are a “thousand times” to reflect on new shades of color and new shades of sounds. The guitar has been my friend for 38 years, music fills the universe and perhaps we’ll need a lot of guitars to capture it.