George Barnes Book- "How To Arrange For Solo Guitar"

[van]

I found this in the library (US pronunciation, Li-Berry- a place where yuz can borrow books), and thought it was about doing solo arrangements, but it turned out to be how to arrange for a big band when guitar is the solo instrument.

So it's written for arrangers as well as guitarists.

It's got some interesting concepts in it that some of us who play in larger ensembles than quartets can use.
He tells arrangers to think of the guitar as a brilliant sounding viola, as far as the written range of the guitar is concerned.
He advocates using the guitar in a section with the saxes, clarinets and trombones, rather than the trumpets.
There are also short examples of his writing for three, four and five guitars as an ensemble section.

The section on recording advises that the amplifier should be placed on a table, facing the guitarist at ear level, and the mic should be in between the amp and the guitar so you can record acoustic rhythm guitar, also.

He also recommended using special tunings on the guitar to achieve open string sounds in keys like Bb Eb Ab, etc...
The part I found most interesting as an arranger was the section on writing horn backgrounds for the guitar.
He advocated not using sustained harmony because the horns tend to 'wash out' the sustained part of the guitar's notes.

[Gerry]

Can you scan?

[Nate Najar]

what a hip book. I'll have to look for it.

[ott...@hotmail.com]

> He also recommended using special tunings on the guitar to achieve open string sounds in keys like Bb Eb Ab, etc...

He had his Own Model of Guilds guitars he played and I seem to remember in an old Guild Guitar catalog that he also had a smaller version of his, but tuned higher, like maybe a 4th, it's a Loong time ago though.

Bg

[van]

No scan. My brother tried to teach me recently, and it got so involved that I had to threaten bodily harm to get the little geek to shut up.

[lache...@gmail.com]

I'm George Barnes' daughter, Alexandra Barnes Leh and, on behalf of my mother and myself, I am the producer of The George Barnes Legacy Collection -- georgebarneslegacy.com. I am in communication with Ralph Peer of Peermusic, the company that originally published "How to Arrange for Solo Guitar," and they will be re-releasing a new version within the next several months. I'll announce it on the GBLC website and the George Barnes, Guitar Legend Facebook page as soon as I know the release dates. Mom and I would deeply appreciate it if those who wish to own this valuable work would either borrow it from the library or purchase it. Yes, the family gets a very small royalty -- but it's even more important to us to respect any great (or even good!) artist and his (or her) life's work. Dad supported his little family with his recordings, his publications, and the extensive work he did on thousands of other artists' recordings over his 44-year career. We are producing his legacy in the interest of inspiring his fellow musicians to achieve the excellence that was -- is -- the hallmark of George Barnes' work. Thank you!

[Gerry]

On 2015-09-18 21:01:08 +0000, lache...@gmail.com said:

> I'm George Barnes' daughter, Alexandra Barnes Leh and, on behalf of my
> mother and myself, I am the producer of The George Barnes Legacy
> Collection -- georgebarneslegacy.com. I am in communication with Ralph
> Peer of Peermusic, the company that originally published "How to
> Arrange for Solo Guitar," and they will be re-releasing a new version
> within the next several months.

I'd be delighted to purchase it legitimately when and if it ever
becomes available.

> Yes, the family gets a very small royalty -- but it's even more
> important to us to respect any great (or even good!) artist and his (or
> her) life's work. Dad supported his little family with his recordings,
> his publications, and the extensive work he did on thousands of other
> artists' recordings over his 44-year career. We are producing his
> legacy in the interest of inspiring his fellow musicians to achieve the
> excellence that was -- is -- the hallmark of George Barnes' work. Thank
> you!

Certainly I'll respect the wishes of George Barnes' wife and daughter,
not purely as a matter of respect for Barnes himself--for which I have
profound respect--but also for the actual utility it might provide his
estate; I'm sure he would appreciate that. My concern is that his name
not lapse into total obscurity.

Though it was certainly not the case 10 years go, there are actually a
lot of Barnes' recordings that are currently available either new or
used:

http://tinyurl.com/pvnh45x

[Steven Bornfeld]

On 9/18/2015 5:01 PM, lache...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I'm George Barnes' daughter, Alexandra Barnes Leh and, on behalf of my mother and myself, I am the producer

of The George Barnes Legacy Collection -- georgebarneslegacy.com. I am
in communication with Ralph Peer of Peermusic,

the company that originally published "How to Arrange for Solo
Guitar," and they will be re-releasing a new version

within the next several months. I'll announce it on the GBLC website
and the George Barnes, Guitar Legend Facebook

page as soon as I know the release dates. Mom and I would deeply
appreciate it if those who wish to own this valuable

work would either borrow it from the library or purchase it. Yes, the
family gets a very small royalty -- but it's

even more important to us to respect any great (or even good!) artist
and his (or her) life's work. Dad supported his

little family with his recordings, his publications, and the extensive
work he did on thousands of other artists'

recordings over his 44-year career. We are producing his legacy in the
interest of inspiring his fellow musicians

to achieve the excellence that was -- is -- the hallmark of George
Barnes' work. Thank you!
>

This is great news!

Steve