I didn't include Angie

Back in the days of yore any self respecting guitarist learned a tune called Angie or went home. It was the passport into a folk club.
'Angie' was written by the now legendary Davey Graham - paving the way for Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch, John Renbourne and many others. Davy experimented with music from many places - Morocco, Bulgaria to add new textures to English folk music. One of his great legacies for guitarists was the DADGAD tuning - I have used this for many years now as well as others such as CGCGCD. He has a website. Angie was made famous by Bert Jansch and copied (as were many things) by Paul Simon. Davey's version is, for me, the best - he manages to get a subtle swing into his. John Renbourne also does it great credit too mind you.
Out of respect I have omitted my version because I learned the Paul Simon version and have been ashamed ever since.
After years of obscurity Davy is back thanks to the efforts of Mark Peavey and his CD is out and titled Broken Biscuits. It is a collection of tunes - nothing too special and nothing like the old Graham - well in fairness it wouldn't be - not the fiery young man any more. Rumours of his gigs speak of poor performances and drink. Sad.

The odd bits of guitar tunes here of mine are a bit old now - I am waiting to get my new multi-track powered up and do them and others properly.
Bob's Song is a tune by Martin Simpson and Flower of Sweet Erin is also after his arrangement.
Heartsong is a take of a Gordon Giltrap.
McGee's Rag - an old standard - I have always enjoyed rag tunes - listen to John Pearse to hear it done properly.
Bogie's Bonny Belle is the tune of a wonderful bothy song - best of Scottish songs for my money.
My Highland Lass is a tune I wrote I moved to Scotland.
Beachcomber is based around an old Gordon Giltrap tune - Gordon is one of my favourite players - not recognised enough for the really gifted musician and composer he is.

All played on an old Takamine with a Zoom effects and an ancient coal fired Laney amp.
I enjoy it all whatever anybody says.

Crumpled paper in Photoshop

I like messing about with Photoshop so here is a neat way to make crumpled paper effect.
Its not an original idea but this is my simplified version.

Make a new file, a bit larger than you want your finished paper to be – white background.

Then make a new layer - use that to make the paper.

• MAKING THE TEXTURE

Choose your Gradient tool .

Change the Mode to Difference.

From the Gradient tool's Shape Options choose

Diamond or Reflected.

Choose black and white for your Foreground/Background.

Drag your gradient across your canvas over and over, going in different directions each time, and starting from different points.

The more you do it the more crumpled your paper will be in the end. It will look something like this.

• GET THE PAPER EFFECT

Filter - Stylize - Emboss. Choose the angle for where your light will be coming from. I like 135°.

Choose a Height and an Amount that give you good results.

2-4 pixels for Height and an Amount of 200-300%.

• CUT OUT THE PAPER

To get the paper shape use the Polygonal Lasso tool , carve out some crumples from your edges.

After you get your selection made, click the Add Layer Mask.

• ADD A COLOUR with Hue/ Saturation in Image > Adjustments.

• Add a DROP SHADOW by clicking on the button at the bottom of the Layers palette.

To add to the shadow use a soft brush gently.

Get on with Giovanni Palestrina

I've always liked the motets of Thomas Tallis and still listen to Spem et Alum even after hearing it many dozens of times over the years.

But Palestrina (left) 1525 - 1594 does it all and listening to his seamless music is a glimpse of his heaven. He was educated and choirboy at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and looking up at the arches and curves he worked under is reflects his music which too curves and soars amongst itself. Look for yourself and play the clips in the music player at the top of the page to see if you agree. Listen to how he makes the separate melodies weave in and out and meld into one glorious harmonic joy.

Musically its called polyphonic - I just call it sheer beauty.

Interesting about his times was the debate about music concealing the scriptural words - which to the Church the most important part. Palestrina overcame this despite the fact that up to six lines of music are sounding at the same time. If you haven’t heard these 16^th century wonders – or indeed William Byrd – greatest of the Elizabethan composers who took polyphonic church music and songwriting on further and higher -
then rush out today and do so.

You will never be the same person again.

Joan Baez

JOAN BAEZ MUSIC

I first heard Joan Baez in the 1960's singing Farewell Angelina. As I had when I heard Bob Dylan singing Don't Think Twice I was bowled over by the guitar playing and vowed to play like them. Unlike Bob who moved away to become Bob Joan epitomised the protest of those days along with Pete Seeger and many thousands of others who wanted to change the world. Like many others including Bob Joan looks back to Woody Guthrie - too often uncredited with the immense influence he had on that generation.
Strange now, for the first time she is openly endorsing a candidate running for the office of President of the United States. She has chosen to endorse Senator Barack Obama. I haven't got her latest CD - Bowery Songs but I notice it has two songs that I also struggled to play way back then - •
Silver Dagger
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Both of them are classic Baez - you can hear samples on the site above.

strings

Martin. These are good enough strings, and they really warm up with a little playing in but I thought they were quite a harsh sound at first though. Quite easy to bend with, despite not being the lightest gauge.

D'Addarrio Not so keen on these nowdays. Basic response on all strings but the G and D do hold up well - I find they are usually the first to go dull. 5 pack tin is cheaper then 5 individual pack. Martin Simpson is endorsed by D'Addarrio - I guess he needs a brighty string with his style and that fearsomely lovely Stefan Sobell guitar.

Rotosound 12's are strings I like now - great tone,also easier playing as the stripped windings at the bridge very slightly lower the action and make things a little smooother all round. I use them with a Takamine cutaway electro acoustic which always had a slightly snappy plugged-in tonal character,but using the CGs it is substantially warmer. The 11's are a bit light unplugged - better with 12's.
John Renbourne uses these and that's good enough for me.