The Guitar Poem
What Vita and Fred call the Guitar Poem pairs an instrumental classical guitar piece with a recited poem. Both the piece and poem are not necessarily related, often composed centuries apart by creators unknown to each other. However, poetry and music have always intersected at certain points. The metrics, tone, and emotions of the poem can be enhanced by the guitar piece and vice versa. The piece becomes more poetic, and the poem becomes more musical. Throughout its long history, the guitar has accompanied spoken word poetry in this manner. Since the Guitar Poem idea is not new, Vita and Fred reformulate it in their own way, and that draws upon their own influences.
Vita Monastero’s
Biography
After working for 33 years in both catholic and elementary schools, Vita retired from her teaching career. During her teaching years in Catholic School, Vita served for many years as the Religion Coordinator for school events.
She has been published in many teacher journals, has written and published poetry, and has been a participant in speech festivals.
In her parish, Vita is a Eucharistic Minister, a choir member, and serves as a member of the Divine Mercy prayer team. Vita also lectors in two parishes. In 2005, she was professed as a Secular Franciscan.
With the ministry of Guitar Poems, Vita and her husband, Fred, hope to serve as instruments of evangelization and make this genre of classical guitar and spoken word be embraced by others and continue for many future years. With the ministry of Guitar Poems, Vita and her husband, Fred, hope to serve as instruments of evangelization to God's people.
Fred Vasquez’s
Biography
Fred Vasquez, M.M., M.A.T., recently retired after a long career as a music educator at Newtown High School (NYC DOE). He is also a classical guitarist, music historian, arranger and church lector.
Fred was born in New York City to an Argentine mother and a Peruvian father. He has been playing the guitar since age 10. He was raised in an environment of guitar, music, sports and languages.
Fred went on to earn his Master of Music degree in classical guitar studies at SUNY Stonybrook and his Masters of Arts in Teaching degree at Lehman College CUNY. He also pursued Doctoral studies in Latin American musicology at Stonybrook. Fred performed as a classical guitar recitalist in numerous notable venues and recital halls throughout New York and Peru. He was also an Adjunct Lecturer in Music History at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY).
At Newtown High School Fred formed an award-winning classical guitar program that flourished for decades. Through the years he and his students made a number of classical guitar documentaries for QPTV. He was cited for exemplary teaching and service to the community by NYS Senator, Jose Peralta. He was awarded the title “Educator of the Week” by Univision and the NYS Lottery.
Now, Fred is happy to develop the Guitar Poem genre for the purpose of evangelization, and to provide alternatives for using the classical guitar and poetry.
Guitar Poems
Marian Apparitions
Mountain Maid
Performed By Vita & Fred
Portuguese Folk Poem recited by the three shepherd children of Fatima.
"Wild Mountain Thyme" - Arranged For Guitar by Scott Tennant
"Prelude in D Major" - Composed by Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909, Spain)
Commissions
Dominus Tecum is a sacred work for classical guitar and string quartet by the noted Chilean guitarist and composer, Javier Contreras.
It was commissioned by Fred Vasquez and Vita Monastero.
The premier recording featured the composer as guitar soloist accompanied by the world-renowned string quartet, the Cuarteto Latino-Americano.
Dominus Tecum
Concert Mysteries of Faith
“Concierto Misterios de la Fe”
Commissioned by Fred Vásquez
Composed By Mark Contreras Waiss
Venue: Centro Cultural Cayetano
Live in Lima, Peru
Date: May 2024
Guitarists
Agustin Baltazar
Max Carbajal
Jorge Jara
Alexander Reyes
Suite Blanca
Commissioned by Fred Vásquez
Composed by Mark Contreras Waiss
Guitarist: Julio Casas
December, 2022
Lima, Peru
Édith Piaf:
Hymn to Love
Performed by Rebeca Oliveira // https://www.rebecaoliveira.com/
Arranged by Fred Vásquez
Composers: Édith Piaf & Marguerite Monnot
Sound Recording: Hugo Ferreira
Mix & Mastering: Javier Salvador // http://www.javiersalvador.com
Video: Hugo Ferreira
Guitar: Dieter Müller Double Top 2016
Strings: Agustine Imperial Red http://www.albertaugustine.com
David Eres Brun:
Benedicta
Performed by Jonathan Parkin
Commissioned by Fred Vásquez
Recorded at Rockaway Studios (Castellón)
Sound Engineer: Javier Salvador
Video: JSM Guitar Records
Guitar: Daniele Chiesa
Strings: Augustine Azul (High Tension)
David Eres Brun:
Cantus Dolens
Performed by Jonathan Parkin
Commissioned by Fred Vásquez
Recorded at Rockaway Studios (Castellón)
Sound Engineer: Javier Salvador
Video: JSM Guitar Records
Guitar: Daniele Chiesa
Strings: Augustine Azul (High Tension)
Javier Salvador:
El arte de la fe
Performed by Jonathan Parkin
Commissioned by Fred Vásquez
Recorded at Rockaway Studios (Castellón)
Sound Engineer: Javier Salvador
Video: JSM Guitar Records
Guitar: Daniele Chiesa
Strings: Augustine Azul (High Tension)
Fred Guitar Arrangements
Quiero Ser tu Sombra
Arranged by Fred Vásquez
Composed By Hector Quattromanos
Performed by Fred Vásquez and Students
(From left to right, Fred Vasquez, Pascual Araujo,
John Velez, Jin Zhang, and Anuvrat Reddy)
Venue: Nuyorican Poets Cafe
New York City, NY
Date: May 2009
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