Performer,
composer and recording artist Greg C. Brown picked up a guitar in 1982, and
since then it has shaped his life. After playing in several metal and rock
bands in the eighties and early nineties, Brown turned his attention to
classical guitar. There he found a new level of creative freedom and an
intimacy with the instrument that had been covered by the effects and
amplification of electric guitar.
Brown
received formal instruction from various teachers, performers and composers,
including Pepe Romero, Dr. Douglas James (Appalachian State University), Keith
Stevens (James Madison University), Christopher Berg (University of South
Carolina), Thomas Patterson (Arizona State University), and Anthony Glise, who
was nominated for a Pulitzer-prize for composition.
Though
his technical skill improved, Brown still felt restrained by the rules of
classical composition. His musical interests moved beyond the borders of the
US, across Europe and into Asia; Brown cites such diverse influences as
Beethoven, Eddie Van Halen, Paganini, and the countless composers of
traditional Spanish, flamenco, and Chinese music. Recording artist Benjamin
Verdery of Yale University advised Brown to "think outside the box"
and draw from his varied interests and personal experience to create his own
style.
Brown
showcased his new compositional style with his first CD, released in 1996. In
1997, Brown was commissioned to write another piece for guitar and orchestra.
Transylvania premiered with the Charlottesville Chamber Orchestra and is the
title track of Brown's second disc, released in 1999. Brown's forthcoming disc,
Distant Places (Spring 2002), best displays Brown's diverse talent. The disc
includes Arabic, Asian, and American influenced works for solo guitar, a rumba,
two orchestral pieces and the return of his electric guitar. As Brown matures
in his compositional voice, he has felt more comfortable integrating techniques
from his electric days and expanding knowledge of world music.
Brown
is a member of the Charlottesville Classical Guitar Society, the Guitar
Foundation of America and the Society of Composers, Inc. He teaches guitar
privately and at The Covenant School in his hometown of Charlottesville
Virginia
browngreg@earthlink.net .
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