Classical Guitar Composers Podcast

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Classical Guitar Composers is a podcast for composers to share their works for classical guitar with other guitar enthusiasts. Listeners contribute recordings of their works to get them heard by classical guitar players and fans.

Chris Hales


    • Feb 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 46m AVG DURATION
    • 62 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Classical Guitar Composers Podcast

    Episode 56 - Leg Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 59:38


    In this episode I mostly talk about not having anything to talk about, and we end with 12 Studies by Martin Slater.

    Ep. 55 - Hello Doctor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 36:23


    In this episode, I talk about the awkward moment I ran into my chiropractor on vacation, pay tribute to one of my favorite guitarists of the non-classical variety, and close the show with a great piece by Stefano Màsera.

    Episode 54 - Finally

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 48:35


    In this episode I talk about the unfortunate passing of the great Armand Coeck, and my encounter with a new way of playing guitar. The show ends with a great suite by Javier Contreras. 

    Episode 53

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 42:33


    In this episode I confess to having never played Brouwer. I also discuss some potentially lesser known composers I like, Gimli the corgi makes his show debut. The episode ends with a revisit of 5 pieces by Martin Slater.

    Ep. 52 - Here I am filing my nails again

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 40:32


    In this episode, I discuss how one band broke my heart, and another put it back together. The show ends with 2 pieces by Kristian Heim. 

    Episode 51 - Sit down sir

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 39:17


    The podcast is back after a brief hiatus. On this episode I discuss the future of the show, rock concert etiquette, and play music from the vault by Jared Coffin. 

    Episode 50 - No applause, please!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 42:17


    In this episode I discuss potentially attending my first classical guitar concert in several years. I also talk about a style of classical music that really isn't for me, and speculate on the future (and maybe the present?) of live classical music. The show closes with a 3 movement work by Etienne de Lavaulx.

    Episode 49

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 29:37


    In this episode I talk about a new guitar piece I'm loving, a movie I hated, and we listen to a fantastic chamber piece by Graham Campbell.

    Episode 48 - PR, The Final Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2023 125:17


    In this episode I'm joined by my friend and colleague, Parker Robinson one last time before he rides off into the Nashville sunset. We talk about acoustic treatment, the Elvis movie, and weird foods to bring to a Superbowl party.

    Ep 47 - Dog Park People

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2022 41:25


    In this episode, I talk about encounters with other dog owners, a naive belief I once held about my computer, and we hear a fantastic composition for 10 string guitar by Thomas Katerkamp.

    Episode 46 - Cistern and Buckets

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 66:49


    In this episode, I do a full deep dive into the 12 Villa Lobos etudes, discussing them at length possibly for the last time. I also reveal something I experienced for the first time recently, and the show finishes off with 2 great pieces by Mike Woods.

    Episode 45 Pt. 2 (Shrooms!!??)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 79:39


    In this episode I discuss a recent concert I attended, and we reach back into the vault to hear 4 great pieces by Scott Niebauer. Afterwords, I'm joined by 2 special guests to give our lists of what we consider to be the top 13 horror movies of all time.

    Episode 45 Pt. 1 (Shrooms!!??)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 78:27


    In this episode I discuss a recent concert I attended, and we reach back into the vault to hear 4 great pieces by Scott Niebauer. Afterwords, I'm joined by 2 special guests to give our lists of what we consider to be the top 13 horror movies of all time.

    Episode 44

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 44:12


    In this episode I give my take on the concept of borrowing versus plagiarism, and wonder why so many musicians hate music. I also say like, like, a valley girl from the early 90s. The show closes with 3 pieces by Mike Woods.

    Blah Blah Blah, Master! Master! Blah Blah Blah

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 33:25


    In this episode I discuss my latest trip to Prague, a new horror movie I love, and a book that I don't. The show caps off with 2 excellent pieces by Vincenzo Adelini.

    Episode 42

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2022 42:23


    In this episode, I consider life without iced tea, talk about guitar transcriptions for percussion, and ask if a certain set of etudes is slightly overrated. The show ends with a work from Kristian Heim's upcoming album.

    Ep 41

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 39:41


    In this episode I talk about some interesting finds at a local music shop, and we hear fantastic music from Rob Ainsley.

    Episode 40

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 34:26


    Topics include the introduction Gimli the Corgi, something I learned about harp strings, and an original joke by me. The show caps off with 3 new compositions from Kristian Heim.

    Episode 39

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 32:18


    In this episode I lament a happening, reveal a coming change in my life, and talk about a way to overcome a bout with writer's block. The show ends with 3 compositions from Freya Shaw.

    May be the last time, I don't know...ohoh

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 44:06


    In this episode I talk about my next dog, how I hate certain tunings, how Unsolved Mysteries inspired a great horror movie, and of course emails. We then revisit some great guitar pieces by Gisli Johann Gretarsson.

    Episode 37

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 32:46


    In this episode I talk about that time someone asked John Cage a question regarding flatulence. I also talk about an upcoming concert I've bought tickets to. The show ends with my latest composition.

    Episode 36

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 25:45


    In this episode I discuss a new technique for overcoming recording difficulties, why staff paper makes me angry, and come to terms with Halloween Kills. The episode ends with a great piece by Fadi Rachid.

    Episode 35

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 48:51


    In this episode I discuss why you shouldn't keep your guitar in the case, my thoughts on the Jerry Garcia casting, and my feelings on the "music" of John Cage.  The episode ends with 12 Studies by Martin Slater.

    Episode 34 - Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 61:43


    In this episode, I discuss music in the works, neighbor problems, and we revisit music by Daniel Ainsworth. I am then joined by Jeremy Showgren and Parker Robinson for a special discussion on Friday the 13th movies.

    Episode 34 - Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 65:58


    In this episode, I discuss music in the works, neighbor problems, and we revisit music by Daniel Ainsworth. I am then joined by Jeremy Showgren and Parker Robinson for a special discussion on Friday the 13th movies.

    Episode 33

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 24:17


    In this short episode, I talk about saying goodbye to the beloved family dog, and debate names for a fishing boat. We cap off the episode with music by Oliver Waterman. 

    Episode 32

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 41:22


    In episode 32 I discuss my latest approach to composing and overcoming writer's block. Topics also include some recent horror movies I've seen and how Grateful Dead music belongs on the classical guitar. The show caps off with 2 great pieces by Jared S. Coffin.

    Episode 31 (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 42:31


    In this episode I'm pleased to be joined by guitarist and luthier, Kristian Heim to discuss all things classical guitar building. The episode features music by Kristian Heim and Freya Shaw.

    Episode 31 (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 54:14


    In this episode I'm pleased to be joined by guitarist and luthier, Kristian Heim to discuss all things classical guitar building. The episode features music by Kristian Heim and Freya Shaw.

    Episode 30

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 50:26


    Topics include unapologetic love for the Grateful Dead, and classical guitar reference on a tv show, and home recording setup. The show finishes with 3 pieces by Etienne de Lavaulx.

    Episode 29

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 36:18


    Topics include greatest hits albums, worst hits albums, and what brings any good concert to a screeching halt. The show closes with 2 pieces by Martin Slater.

    Episode 28

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2021 33:45


    Topics include memorization, pieces that are more enjoyable to play than listen to, and some classical guitar hiding in a cinematic masterpiece. The show concludes with fantastic music by Bob Wilson.

    Episode 27

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2021 37:20


    In this episode I discuss 2 musical forms that I struggle to compose in, and then talk about Sliders (not the Duane Allman kind). I close the show with an old recording of one of my first compositions for guitar.

    Episode 26

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 36:15


    A listener offers another movie featuring classical guitar, I talk about how much I hated The Craft: Legacy, and we finish with excellent music from Bob Wilson and Freya Shaw.

    Episode 25

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 32:20


    Topics include an amazing gift from a listener, more and writers block, and we finish off with music by Daniel Ainsworth.

    Episode 24

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2020 50:28


    Topics include children's recital etiquette, writer's block, Danglers in Italy, and more on Julian Bream. Did Julian have a stalker? The episode concludes with fantastic works by Etienne De Lavaulx.

    Episode 23 Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 80:14


    An episode within an episode. The show features a fall themed collection of guitar pieces, and is then followed by a battle between my friend, Jeremy Showgren and myself to draft the best roster of horror movies. Spoiler alert: I destroy him.

    Episode 23 Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 52:46


    An episode within an episode. The show features a fall themed collection of guitar pieces, and is then followed by a battle between my friend, Jeremy Showgren and myself to draft the best roster of horror movies. Spoiler alert: I destroy him.

    Episode 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 46:15


    In this episode, I mention the first horror movie I ever saw, discuss the benefits of having a mean violin teacher, and read a ghostly email. Not a lot of guitar talk in this episode, but it's made up for with some fantastic compositions by Etienne de Lavaulx.

    Episode 21 - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2020 50:10


    After a few words on the passing of a legend, Julian Bream, Composer and guitarist, Scott Niebauer joins me to discuss a wide range of topics, including his guitar beginnings, the importance of practicing composition, musical influences, and of course, iced tea. We then hear Scott's latest composition, and a great piece from Paul Horn.

    Episode 21 - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2020 42:19


    After a few words on the passing of a legend, Julian Bream, Composer and guitarist, Scott Niebauer joins me to discuss a wide range of topics, including his guitar beginnings, the importance of practicing composition, musical influences, and of course, iced tea. We then hear Scott's latest composition, and a great piece from Paul Horn.

    Episode 20

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 57:38


    Topics include a club I'd like to join, superhero movies, Ennio Morricone, and we hear the music of Christopher Mclaren, and Gísli Jóhann Grétarsson.

    Episode 19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2020 56:21


    Topics include "Rock Symphonies," weird composers, Hans Zimmer, and other things I don't like. The show ends with fantastic music by David Malmberg.

    Episode 18

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2020 63:08


    Topics include "A Confederacy of Dunces", my on and off again relationship with a guitar piece, and we finish with 6 fantastic compositions by Martin Slater. Tone Picture No. 1 (By The River) Tone Picture No. 2 (Green Meadows) Tone Picture No. 3 (Sun & Cloud) Tone Picture No. 4 (Spring Haze) Tone Picture No. 5 (Hazy Summer) Lullaby

    Episode 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2020 46:31


    In this episode I make a confession, respond to email, and enjoy great music from Freya Shaw and Andrew Aylward.

    Episode 16

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 46:51


    Topics include composing solos vs ensembles and an alternative ending to Escape From New York. The show ends with a fantastic guitar concerto by Mark Francis.

    Episode 15

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 96:30


    In this episode I'm joined by Parker Robinson to further breakdown recording methods. Sort of. We get easily side-tracked. We then revisit music from a previous episode by Andrew Aylward.

    Episode 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2020 33:20


    Topics include major to minor key ratios among composers, an artificial symphony, and an overrated horror movie. The show ends with 4 excellent pieces by Scott Niebauer.

    Episode 13

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2019 42:33


    Episode 13 topics include the things we give up for classical guitar, coming to appreciate composers through learning, and why New Years is the worst holiday. The show ends with fantastic music by Thomas Lyng Poulsen.

    Episode 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2019 43:55


    In this episode I discuss Giuliani (not that one), the Classical period, the so called "Black Crowes" reunion tour, and we listen to the music of Lance Olivieri.  

    Episode 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 46:15


    In this episode, I drone on for about 20 minutes mostly about horror movies, and then we take a musical walk through the graveyard.

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