5.0 out of 5 stars
Virtuosity put to use, February 21, 2004
This review is from: Strad To Strat (Audio CD)
As a lover of both classical music and electric guitar, for years I had been thinking how great it would be if some electric guitar virtuoso would play some of the violin classics. Kevin Ferguson answered my prayers with his "Strad To Strat CD". The compositions that he plays by composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Rimsky-Korsakov have already proven their enduring quality in the world of classical music. Kevin Ferguson gives them a fresh spark with his electric guitar while keeping their original character intact. Paganini wrote many of his pieces specifically to show off his own virtuosity on the violin and Kevin puts them to good use displaying his skill with the guitar. Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee has been used for years by violin masters to demonstrate their speed and precision. Mr. Ferguson continues this tradition but substitutes the clear piercing sound of the electric guitar for the original violin. While "Strad To Strat" may be considered a bit of a novelty item, it is also great listening. I have heard quite a few guitarists that have a technical proficiency that they don't quite know what to do with, producing works with blazing speed and difficulty and little or no musicality. Kevin Ferguson doesn't have that problem. He puts his virtuosity to use giving us memorable renditions of music that has already stood the test of time.
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