Here is a wonderful video from the Bert Kwakkel Jubilee Concert. This was a gathering of guitarists, luthiers, fans, friends and supporters of Bert who is now in his 40th year of building.

Each guitarist performed on his 500th Diamond Jubilee Guitar, a beautiful instrument representing the history and development of his excellent making through the years.

This video has featured as an episode in the Gitaarsalon’s regular spot on the Brava.NL TV station in The Netherlands. 


 

Here is an excerpt from my performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra and conductor Michael Downes.

The concert took place in St Andrew’s Kirk in Helensburgh on Sunday 4th December 2011.

There are lots of videos from live concerts, recording sessions, tours and interviews available online at my Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/nsrmcallister

Whilst introducing some Scottish Lute pieces to the very enthusiastic audience at the Guitar Gems Festival the chat almost descends into a stand up comedy routine!!

Thanks to guitarist and composer David Davara who filmed this concert for the festival.

A Video Blog from Matthew’s performance at the 7th International Guitar Festival of Nendaz, Switzerland. The short film documents the concert given on July 29th by Matthew in the Bleusy Chappelle.

Matthew’s latest solo album Bach & Brouwer has been recently released on Natural Studio Records.

“This recording is a pairing of two works by composers whose styles would appear at first glance to be in sharp contrast. Despite two centuries separating their composition, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suite No.1 ( BWV 1007) and Leo Brouwer’s Suite No.2 share distinct similarities.” Matthew McAllister

Watch a short film documenting the making of Bach & Brouwer. The film contains behind the scenes recording footage on location in the Cathedral of the Isles and an interview about the recording process and the conceptbehind the album.

You can listen to clips, have a look at the beautiful artwork and order a copy of Bach & Brouwer by clicking the link below.

Natural Studio Records Bach & Brouwer

“I hope you are inspired to add this recording to your collection. I wanted to offer a different style of recording to audiences and a recording which contrasts the majority of releases. Bach & Brouwer is an album which forms a larger musical and expressive gesture which I hope encourages the listener to delve deeper into the music.” Matthew McAllister

A short film documenting the Agnew McAllister Duo Malaysia Tour in late 2010.

During their second U.S.A tour Aisling & Matthew performed in California, Oregon, New Jersey, Virginia,Washington and Pennsylvania, giving 9 concerts in some wonderful venues and locations.

The film has lots of live concert footage, extracts from masterclasses andworkshops, life on the road and a peek at some very famous guitars!!

Below you can see a short film of Organist Stuart Muir with Oboist Rona Pollard& Matthew performing Satie’s Gymnopédie.

The melody of the piece uses a deliberate, but mild, dissonance against the harmony, producing a piquant, melancholy effect that matches the performance instructions, which are to play each piece “slowly“, “dolorously“ or “gravely“.

This film is taken from the Organ Centenary Concert at St Nicholas Parish Church in Prestwick, Scotland.

Footage from recent premières at the BarockMuseum, Salzburg. The video opens with the journey to Salzburg and an exceprt from the composition ‘Structures‘ by Douglas Whates is heard. On arrival in the gardens and inside the Barockmuseum the composition playing is the ending of Duino II by the Austrian composer Klaus Ager.

The rehearsal footage is of the new Flute & Guitar composition ‘The Uses of Not‘ by Greg Caffrey, we also see some concert footage of this new work.

The final section of the video shows the journey back towards Scotland and features some of the solo guitar piece ‘Old Photo‘ by Douglas Whates.

Pluck, Blow II (the return) has been commissioned by RTE Lyric FM for Irish flautist Aisling Agnew and Scottish Classical Guitarist Matthew McAllister. 

The recording is now complete and is posted here by kind permission of RTELyric FM.

Matthew & Aisling also made the world premeire recording of Pluck Blow which is included on their debut album Recital – check the discography page for more details.

Radio Broadcast details for Pluck Blow II will follow soon.

Click on the  above to watch film footage and stills from the recording session whilst listening to this exciting new work.

RTE Engineer – Richard McCullagh
RTE Producer Celia Donoghue

Frevo Quartet on tour in northern Ireland. Live concert footage, radio interview and still photography.

Here is a little insight into the Peru & Costa Rica tour that Agnew / McAllister Duo embarked upon this summer.

There were nine concerts, many masterclases, private teaching, radio interviews and tv performances.

More footage from the various concerts will be posted soon but for now enjoy the insight into the tour!

Matthew drops in on Scottish luthier Colin Morison in his workshop situated in the grounds of Pitmuies Mill Farm, Friockheim by Arbroath in Scotland.

Colin built Matthew’s first ever handmade classical guitar just in time for him embarking on his course at the Academy.

Colin’s guitars produce a sound familiar to the renowned Spanish guitars giving excellent projection, balance and separation while retaining warmthand depth.

Frevo Quartet will be releasing a series of themed EP’s. Their first release features their own arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango.

Watch the trailer now!

Check out the latest tour video which features live concert footage, tv performances, radio shows and a tour diary from Matthew’s recent tour in South America.

During August of 2008 Matthew embarked on a month long tour of South America performing in Arequipa, Tacna, Mollendo, Ilo, Iquique, Camana and Aplao.

The tour included perforamnces at the 6th International Guitar Festival in Arequipa, live on Peru TV, Victoria FM and at the Iquique festival in Chile.