Tag: guitar

Posted on by — Leave a comment

#NewTuneThursday: Bonnie Prince Charlie

Welcome to #NewTuneThursday!

This has always been such a fun medley to play!

Based on a set of traditional Scottish tunes, this 5.5 minute long work is a sweeping journey of melody, color, and heart. Beginning somberly with a single violin, it soon opens up and begins driving forward. Each consecutive tune increases in tempo and ferocity until the set ends in a passionate, victorious rendition of the title tune, “Bonnie Prince Charlie.” Though the melodies reflect the ageless tunes on which they’re based, the chords and harmony parts are all original, bringing the classic fiddle sound into a fresh, modern light.

This work took a long time to put together, in the sense that I grew up “fiddling around” on each of these traditional tunes, and others. So I guess this medley is sort of a microcosm of my joyful foray into traditional Celtic music throughout my youth. I eventually had an opportunity to use the ending arrangement of “Bonnie Prince Charlie” with another song that I was playing with a band. And from there, it just evolved into this awesomely fun work!

There are currently two versions of the sheet music available:

In the recording below, you’ll hear the version for string trio (2 fiddles and viola). Enjoy!

Listen on Amazon Music
Listen on YouTube Music

“Bonnie Prince Charlie” can be performed by an early-intermediate ensemble. Stay tuned for our new work of next week…

Posted on by — Leave a comment

#NewTuneThursday: Pegasus

Welcome to #NewTuneThursday!

This work for violin, guitar, and piano holds such a special place in my heart. <3

I originally finished writing it in 2006, my last year at Cal Poly Pomona. When I had first sketched out my ideas for “Pegasus” it was right after one of my Middle Eastern Music classes (I loved my ethnomusicology classes!!!). During this particular class we had gotten just a taste of certain Middle East drumming patterns and practices, one of them being the 10/8 pattern the piano part outlines at the beginning of this work. In the table below, imagine the lower row is a deeper pitched drum while the upper row is a higher pitched drum; it goes a little something like this:

      ♩ –         ♪
♩. – –     ♪ ♩ – ♪  

Now listen to the opening piano part:

Listen on YouTube Music

Can you hear it? I’ve always thought it was pretty cool! :p

The thing is, once I’d written about the first minute-and-a-half, for only violin and piano at the time, I got stuck. At some point afterward I began taking composition lessons on the side of my normal studies with Dr. Peter Yates. Of course, being a phenomenal guitarist, he suggested I add a guitar part to the ensemble–I’m so glad I did. 🙂 Then he helped me think through the rest of the work–and we even debuted “Pegasus” on the Cal Poly stage one evening concert!

Since then, I didn’t get to record this work definitively until one of my fellow Cal Poly alums offered to record a few works for me in the studio. So, we got together more fellow alums–John-Paul Trotter on guitar and Mike Jung on piano–to have a giant reunion-style recording session! It was a blast!

“Pegasus” can be performed by an intermediate-advanced trio. Get the sheet music here! And stay tuned for our new work of next week…

Recording “Pegasus” (and “Butterfly Lullaby”): l to r– Dave Martinez (engineer), John-Paul Trotter, me, and Mike Jung.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

#NewTuneThursday: Solitude’s Hypocrisy

Welcome to #NewTuneThursday!

Today’s tune is our first foray into the works created for “Music for The Book of I“… Presenting “Solitude’s Hypocrisy”!

Back in 2014, I was approached by author Jorge Armenteros to create a 50-minute album of “musical response” works to be released with the debut of his novel, The Book of I.

The Book of I is the story of Teaston, a painter struggling with schizophrenia, who finds himself at the edge of a cliff, at the edge of his life. Set in the seaside village of Cassis, in the south of France, the novel explores our fragmented human nature through the distorted lens that Teaston provides.

I had a huge blast working on this whole project! Jorge specifically loves the violin and wanted music centered on the haunting sounds of strings. So most of the music I created is for various combinations of string ensemble.

Today’s particular tune, however, was intended to be simple, raw, and heart-breaking. It remains one of my favorite tunes… “Solitude’s Hypocrisy” is a reflection of our main character’s turmoil that he finally succumbs to near the end of the novel… In it, Jorge Armenteros writes:

The ever-shifting world throws me into a lonely corner when I need someone. And when I crave solitude, my skull lets everybody into my mind… when I could almost touch Phillipy, he jumped…Even Camila, walking away from me when I need her most.

Reading this, I knew I had to incorporate the themes belonging to both Phillipy and Camila, which I had already composed. And, of course, both characters’ themes had to strike a much darker and more sombre tone in this combined “reprise” of sorts.

And, as it happened, Jorge had requested that I have one of the album’s tracks ready slightly ahead of schedule, so that he could play it at a reading he was giving — I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to present this intimate and heart-felt little work; I realized that constructing it for one violin and one guitar would perfectly fit the bill!

In the recently re-released “Existential Edition”, the recording of “Solitude’s Hypocrisy” holds a special place in my heart. Here, I was able to play the tune with my first composition teacher, Peter Yates. I just love the clear sincerity and “edge” present in our somewhat impromptu performance. 🙂

Enjoy this special recording of “Solitude’s Hypocrisy”!

Listen on Amazon Music
Listen on YouTube Music

“Solitude’s Hypocrisy” can be performed by an intermediate-advanced duo. Get the sheet music here! And stay tuned for our new work of next week…

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Presenting… “Music for The Book of I (The Existential Edition)”!

At long last, the 2014 soundtrack to the novel by Jorge Armenteros, “The Book of I,” is available in all its re-mastered and re-recorded glory!

You can purchase it directly from me in either digital or physical formats, purchase it on Bandcamp, or listen to it via any of the other popular places music resides online!

I hope you enjoy this artistic, stirring journey into the human condition…

Posted on by — Leave a comment

May Musical Madness!

So, May is shaping up to be a really exciting month of debuts and unique concerts! First up…

web_flier--ALT ad

This is shaping up to be a really fun gig of Modern Music with a Twist! Lainey and I will be joined by four of our talented friends and guest musicians to play instrumental music that is a unique blend of folk, rock, and electronic — you won’t want to miss this!

The only way we’re guaranteed the chance to perform for you – both this show and future shows – is if we can show the venue and booking company that we have fans who are dedicated to showing up and enjoying our music. How does that happen? By purchasing your tickets for May 19 NOW!

**Afton has just given our fans a new discount code!!! Enter MEMORIES956 before May 11 and save $2 — I am also continuing my FREE MERCH offer with this promotion! Order your ticket before May 11 and choose any one of my albums for free! **

___________________________________________

Sunday May 15 — Two Wallin Huff debuts! 🙂

___________________________________________

There’s more exciting news to come soon, like a certain, summertime album release of a certain exciting world premiere…!! 😀

Posted on by — Leave a comment

5 Days Left for Discounted Tickets!

Come to Silverlake Lounge on May 19, 7pm and join Lainey White and myself for a set of all-original compositions and arrangements featuring acoustic fiddle and 6-string electric violin, with electronics, percussion, guitar and more!

** DISCOUNT CODE! Enter code SARAH492 on check-out by APRIL 30 and get $2 off **

With just 5 days left to take advantage of this discount, I am offering a special gift to all who pre-order tickets before the April 30 deadline — with every discounted ticket purchase, you can choose one album from my discography list for FREE!

Not only do you save money with this promo code and receive your free gift – but you ALSO help us ensure the show goes on, by buying Tickets in advance versus paying the higher door price.

Visit the Events page for this show for more info. See you there!

web_flier--NEW

 

 

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Very Cool Performance at Hillcrest

I’ve been invited to perform an hour-long set of music for the residents and guests at Hillcrest!

This FREE show will be on Friday, September 25th, starting at 6:45 pm. Find more details here.

I’ve invited two of my talented colleagues, Mike Jung (piano) and Kyle Graham (guitar/mandolin/viola/composer) to join me!

Several of my original works will be performed: “Butterfly Lullaby,” “Personal Echo,” “Pegasus,” “Solitude’s Hypocrisy,” and “Oppression/Blessings and Harmony“… We’ll perform an original work of Kyle’s, too, as well as some Brazilian choro and Celtic folk!

All in all, it will be a very unique performance! Hope to see you there! :)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Performing “Solitude’s Hypocrisy” Live!

On Friday, May 29, I’ll be performing my own work for violin and classical guitar – “Solitude’s Hypocrisy” from The Book of I OST – at this alumni event with excellent guitarist, John Paul Trotter! And, I’ll get to fiddle around with the jazz band, too! 😉

The Cal Poly Pomona Music Department’s Annual Year-End Celebration “Celebrate Me Home” includes a Mixer at 6:30PM on the recital hall patio and an Alumni Concert at 8:00pm in the recital hall.

The Mixer is a fun time for students, faculty, staff, and alum to get together, reconnect and make new friends. Music at the Mixer will be provided by M.U.S.E. (Music Uniting Student Entertainers) club members. Light food and beverages included.

Music alum from the last four decades will take the stage at 8:00pm and perform to benefit a new Alumni Scholarship.

The mixer for students, alumni, faculty, and staff starts at 6:30pm, and the concert itself starts at 8pm (link directs to my Event Page for this listing).

Each event alone is $15, but if you plan on attending both, the total is only $20.

More info and tickets can be found here.

Hope to see you there! 😀

cropped-cropped-OST-1000x1000-BookofI-coverart.jpg

Posted on by — Leave a comment

First Official Track Recorded!

The recording for “Solitude’s Hypocrisy” is finished! Many thanks to the generous talents of Brett Bird (violinist) and Jonatas Mostacato (guitarist)! Enjoy the teaser-clip from it below… And be sure to keep an eye out and an ear open for the full release of the entire album with Jorge Armenteros’ novel “THE BOOK OF I” as well as artwork by Liselott Johnsson!

[audio sarahwallinhuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/solitudes-hypocrisy-official-clip.mp3]

The ever-shifting world throws me into a lonely corner when I need someone. And when I crave solitude, my skull lets everybody into my mind… when I could almost touch Phillipy, he jumped…Even Camila, walking away from me when I need her most. — Teaston, from ‘The Book of I’ by Jorge Armenteros