Fingerstylin' with Michael T on GuitarJamDaily.com

Mike's biweekly column discusses the technique, repertoire, and culture of classical and fingerstyle guitar. Fingerpluckin' good!

The Cervantes Suite

Seven movement work for solo classical guitar. (Seventh movement forthcoming.)

I. Cervantes y Don Quijote contemplan los molinos de viento (Allemande)
Cervantes and Don Quijote Contemplate the Windmills
II. Cervantes monta a Rocinante por sus sueños (Arch form)
Cervantes Rides Rocinante Through His Dreams
III. Cervantes y Dulcinea bailan en los campos por la noche (Minuet and Trio)
Cervantes and Dulcinea Dance in the Fields at Night
IV. Cervantes estudia la brujería del sabio Frestón (Rondo)
Cervantes Studies the Sorcery of the Clever Frestón
V. Cervantes oye los suspiros de los amantes (Sarabande)
Cervantes Hears the Sighs of the Lovers
VI. Cervantes y Sancho discuten el arte de gobernar una ínsula (Fugue)
Cervantes and Sancho Discuss the Art of Governing an Island

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The Stories of Eva Luna

Theatrical adaptation with songs and underscoring.
Mike set passages of Isabel Allende's radiant prose to music for this one-act adaptation of three Allende short stories, which premiered at UC Berkeley in March 2005 under the direction of Nina Billone and art direction of Jennifer Johung. Drawing from South American folk music, flamenco, and traditional Arabic melodies, Mike's four songs and underscoring—for soprano, classical guitar, cello, charango and percussion—frame the tales. In Allende's world of "magical realism," the music brings a touch of the supernatural to the more tangible world of the stage. Mike provided guitar work for the play's maiden voyage, joined by the talents of Andrea Alfáro (soprano), El Beh (cello and percussion), and Matthew Cowell (percussion). Mike also supplied charango on the recording.

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A new concert version of Eva Luna premiered in May 2007 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, at the guitar recital of Zac Selissen.

Stand Up Eight: Mike’s band

Award-winning, all-original funk and jazz-infused pop/rock.
www.standupeight.net

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Tooth and Nail

Play with elements of opera and musical theater. Mike composed the music and provided guitar and keyboard accompaniment for the U.S. premiere of Tooth and Nail, which opened in UC Berkeley's Durham Studio Theater in November 2004, directed by Laura Levin.

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Lotus Blooming in a Sea of Fire

Two-act musical/opera. A musical tale from the American War in Vietnam. The story of the My Lai massacre, as told to a child: a village of peaceful dragons, a host of vengeful angels bearing swords of flame, and the blooming of a forbidden lotus.
Book, Music, and Lyrics by MTR
www.michaeltroberts.com/lotus

Note: This site reflects the original version of Lotus, as performed at Dartmouth College on May 24, 2000. Stay tuned for updates on the revised version of Lotus, performed at Blake School of the Arts in Tampa, FL, February 20-22, 2003!

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Passion Play

One-act musical. Mike assisted in the Fall 2000 revival of this timeless tale: the story of Jesus’ last days on earth. A one-act musical pageant by Zach Morfogen, Don Heiferman, and Bruce Molloy, with additional book, music and lyrics by MTR.

Plenty More Where That Came From

Check out the MTR Audio Player for more MTR music of all varieties!