Not wishing to claim top trumps but I'm 55 and am also in the 1'000s category of fanatic for this beautfiful and powerful composition. First heard in 1985 or so as part of a Windham Hill recording, I've had the privilege of booking Alex for 2 performances at venues I have run in Hong Kong and London. A true gentleman and simply extraordinary musician...
Same. I remember listening to this on my Walkman as I trudged through the crunchy snow late at night to the computer lab in college. Now I’m 60 and still love it…
I am 43 years old. I am not kidding when I say that I have listened to this song over one thousand times. Since I was 17. I love Will Ackerman< Michael Hedges and George Winston, but Alex blew my brains out with this song. Try listening to this on vinyl with headphones. Or maybe a little smokey smoke with a glass of wine or two. Good night and welcome to heaven. And the funny part is it is about a trip to Philly , as legend has it.
+djvista38 I am 46 and I have also heard this song as many times. Since I was a teenager too. Autumn Song is my all time favorite though. Okay... it's close. ;-)
I heard this song on American radio and recorded it on a cassette tape in 1988. I have also listened to this song for years on end. It is my all-time favorite guitar tune.
How wonderful to finally see him playing this!!! I'm 47 and have been listening to windham hill records since 1988. The Most beautiful music ever recorded. The guitar sampler is my favorite.
One of my absolute favorite guitarist. Thank you you tube. Love this man's playing. I was stuck on a fishing boat alone in gale winds, in Alaska. Thank goodness I had this cassette. So ethereal, beautiful.
Alex de Grassi has been a part of my vinyl collection since Windham Hill started issuing his solo work in the late 70s. His playing is non pareil. I was just looking at a friend's recent picture of his place in rural Connecticut. The album version of both 'Turning', and 'Turning, Turning Back' remind me fondly of eastern Fall evenings, fire crackling, my love, and good company. None better than Alex to conjure those memories. In my 70s now, I miss those days.
The only thumbs down here is his actual thumb downstroke ! Alex rules this style full stop & has done so for decades Nobody else plays guitar like him on this planet :~)
After "knowing" this song for over 30 years, that last twenty seconds, as its many passages finally resolve, still makes me well with an indescribable emotion.
+Bad Blues Dad I agree with that statement. I have been listening to Alex since I was 15 years old. He is the most inspirational guitarist among the greats. This song is perhaps my favorite. Plug in your headphones and lay back to the most beautiful music ever composed. It is slow and elegant and fast and busy and then ends very sweet. I play guitar, only to entertain myself, I have seen Michael Hedges many times, but Alex is a Giant.
+Bad Blues Dad I agree 100% I have listened to this song since I was 17 and I still get chills towards the end. You can feel the end is near and it is heartbreaking. This composition or overture or art is so inspiring and sad at the same time. It's powerful shit, to be honest. Alex would say otherwise.
Alex De Grassi - I first heard him playing in the dorm at Stanford Universtiy in 1978. He and Will Ackerman used to put on free coffee house gigs in the dorm. It inspired me to learn fingerstyle guitar. Love the music from Alex and Will.
Most envious Bill! Seeing DeGrassi in the very early stages puts you in a pretty rare catagory. Did you also see M Hedges much back in the 70s/early 80s at the time of AB and BITF? That would have been the greatest.
I fist heard of Alex and other Windham Hill artists while listening to a weekly Sunday night jazz radio program, while studying for my college finals. I was fortunate to see Alex and other Windham Hill artists live in performance.
This song brings me so far back in time and I remember everything in my life in that time period, the sadness and the happiness at the same time, this is an extraordinary piece of music, my favorite of any music anywhere. My son was not out of his Mothers womb when this was being played back then, now he's 32 and a classical guitar player himself and I recently sent him the sheet music for this song, I hope he learns it soon, it would mean so much to me.
I went through my late teens mid 80's and till today covet all the Early Ackerman era Windham Hill. After selling the company it wasn't the same after.
I could study this for hours. The individual phrases are simply fascinating as it progresses. Over the decades, like any great work, it has become a part of who we are.
It's amazing that a song that is essentially a record of a trip can evoke such a variety of feelings within me. At times I am hyped up and excited, other times pensive and contemplative. I too, like many other commenters below, have listened to this many hundreds of times. Each time is special. Surely one of the most beautiful pieces of guitar music ever written.
I stumbled across a interview on the radio between 2 people back in 78 and then this guy started playing his guitar. I couldn't believe it was only 1 player. The sound was so full , like an orchestra. Been hooked ever since.
My wife and I heard Alex live about 15 years ago in a small town theater in Fall River Mills, California. I've never experienced a concert quite like it - captivating, intimate and exquisitely beautiful. A rare gem of a memory! Love this piece - thanks!
my dad had a tape of this song and never knew who it was by, he used to record himself playing guitar on old tapes but never had the heart to record this song. a few years ago i discovered that you can ask your phone what a certain song is and it popped up. haven't stopped listing since
My Favorite Acoustic Guitar piece that my Son was raised on back in the day and now he plays Classical Guitar too. I'd like to think he did because of listening to this song and others over and over, Alex Degrassi is also my favorite Guitarist even though there are so many others too, this tune makes me feel so many memories good and bad, but always a beautiful tune.
Grande Alex!!! Ascoltando questo tuo meraviglioso finger-pickin`, e le magiche note che produci con la tua maestria e padronanza dello strumento, mi hanno fatto pensare al grande genio e poeta Nick Drake....grazie davvero!!!
This and 'Causeway' have been my favorite guitar solos for eons. To me, when in comes to guitar, Alex can do NO wrong. And never having been able to see him in concert, what a blessing it is to see these videos!
I really like Alex. I got turned on to him through the Winham Hill label. I was always a Michael Hedges fan and then learned about Shadowfax and then Alex de Grassi and others like Will Ackerman. Alex De Grassi has grown on me over the years as a proficient and humble musician who has composed some fantastic music which, sadly, are not widely known. I think this is the first tune from him. It's lovely.
Beautiful ... I used to have this album on vinyl before I got rid of all my vinyl stuff ... and I have missed it. I should have taken the time to convert to digital format. What an incredible musician.
I just found this tune. At first I thought it was a bit meandering but on repeated views it has grown on me. Definitely an aquired taste. The tremolo part is sublime.
Questo brano straordinario, consacrò De Grassi come la la mano destra del diavolo; il cui controllo è terrificante, splendido e sublime. Nella seconda parte del brano dai 2'30" sino alla fine, la sua mano destra è un metronomo; preciso , di una pulizia assoluta nonostante la velocità e gli accenti. La sua tecnica strumentale e compositiva, anche nei più intensi momenti di virtuosismo, lascia sempre spazio ad aperture intimistiche sublimi e mai stucchevoli che lo consacrano come il più grande chitarrista di guitar steel, lontanissimo dai giri di arpeggi ripetitivi della gran parte dei suoi collegni, nessuno escluso. Solo Pierre Bensusan ha una sua concezione di composizione abbastanza simile..
This rendition is... flawless! Thank you Alex, you just keep getting better and better! I just got the tabs for this song as part of a "Best of Alex de Grassi" book from www.stropes.com and have started learning how to play this beautiful piece. Stropes has very high quality transcriptions if anyone is interested in learning finger-style songs like this one.
Amazing guitarist. Never hear of him up to now. Educated now. DJVista: 44 now and somewhat educated :-) Reminds me of Paco de lucia with the chord substitutions. Top stuff.
Windham Hill Guys? Who are we talking about? David Qualey? Michael Hedges? Will Ackerman? Who was not expressive in this bunch? In the 1980's when this stuff came out all of it it blew me away. Alex is a genius of a composer and after Slow Circle I think he would be considered one the greatist guitar composers of all time.
I have been listening to this piece for EVER! Thank you for postiing it. Also, if you let us know where to get the sheet music/tabs, I promise I will not tell anyone that you have your capo on upside down! Thanks much, Alex!! -Derek PS Added to my "Favs"
Alex is incredible and i have been listening to him for years. To all camera operators filming a musician...most of us want to see the fretting hand most of the time, also closeups of the face are unnecessary for singers. Thanks.
Okay, probably a dumb question, but I'm curious about what seem to be glue on fingernails on the right hand. Seems like a great idea. I assume Alex removes them otherwise.
+Chuck Wyatt He goes to a nail salon every 2-3 weeks and has an acrylic compound pasted over his natural nails. He used to play with a thumb pick and natural nails but he said they kept breaking and/or wearing down. I love this piece too :)
It is actually not uncommon among classical/flamenco guitar players. I know several Flamenco players who are very fastidious about their right hand nail care. Blackbooks78 is correct.
Thanks for the insight, BlackbooksNothing else sounds or feels like your own fingernails. Also, don't forget that he's playing steel strings, not like the much softer nylon of classical and flamenco guitar. Can't do it without reinforcement for his nails. Getting them done regularly is definitely the way to go.
Not wishing to claim top trumps but I'm 55 and am also in the 1'000s category of fanatic for this beautfiful and powerful composition. First heard in 1985 or so as part of a Windham Hill recording, I've had the privilege of booking Alex for 2 performances at venues I have run in Hong Kong and London. A true gentleman and simply extraordinary musician...
One of the greatest solo guitar pieces ever written. 2 thumbs up!
Absolutely...big fan here!
I 1st started listening to Alex in my early 20s. I'm 60 now and still enjoying his music.
Same. I remember listening to this on my Walkman as I trudged through the crunchy snow late at night to the computer lab in college. Now I’m 60 and still love it…
I am 43 years old. I am not kidding when I say that I have listened to this song over one thousand times. Since I was 17. I love Will Ackerman< Michael Hedges and George Winston, but Alex blew my brains out with this song. Try listening to this on vinyl with headphones. Or maybe a little smokey smoke with a glass of wine or two. Good night and welcome to heaven. And the funny part is it is about a trip to Philly , as legend has it.
+djvista38 I am 46 and I have also heard this song as many times. Since I was a teenager too. Autumn Song is my all time favorite though. Okay... it's close. ;-)
+djvista38 How about the "Sleeping lady"?
I heard this song on American radio and recorded it on a cassette tape in 1988. I have also listened to this song for years on end. It is my all-time favorite guitar tune.
How wonderful to finally see him playing this!!! I'm 47 and have been listening to windham hill records since 1988. The Most beautiful music ever recorded. The guitar sampler is my favorite.
Same here, man....
This song feels like a secret garden, obscured from sight and under lock and key, to be discovered only by the pure of heart..
DeGrassi is such a brilliant guitarist ... I have this album and I can just lose myself in it. So beautiful.
Timeless masterpiece....and it's not just about a trip to Philly
One of my absolute favorite guitarist. Thank you you tube. Love this man's playing. I was stuck on a fishing boat alone in gale winds, in Alaska. Thank goodness I had this cassette. So ethereal, beautiful.
Alex de Grassi has been a part of my vinyl collection since Windham Hill started issuing his solo work in the late 70s. His playing is non pareil.
I was just looking at a friend's recent picture of his place in rural Connecticut.
The album version of both 'Turning', and 'Turning, Turning Back' remind me fondly of eastern Fall evenings, fire crackling, my love, and good company. None better than Alex to conjure those memories.
In my 70s now, I miss those days.
Glad I've gotten to see him live a few times. He's an inspiration to all finger-pickers.
I've been listening to this piece since the early 80's, and it always made me think about a long journey into the country and back home again
DADEAD from low to high, capo on 2nd fret
Slow Circle and Turning: Turning Back - both albums are purely perfect.
The only thumbs down here is his actual thumb downstroke !
Alex rules this style full stop & has done so for decades
Nobody else plays guitar like him on this planet :~)
Alex is a true artist. Saw him in '89 and he was excellent. Funny, too.
After "knowing" this song for over 30 years, that last twenty seconds, as its many passages finally resolve, still makes me well with an indescribable emotion.
+Bad Blues Dad I agree with that statement. I have been listening to Alex since I was 15 years old. He is the most inspirational guitarist among the greats. This song is perhaps my favorite. Plug in your headphones and lay back to the most beautiful music ever composed. It is slow and elegant and fast and busy and then ends very sweet. I play guitar, only to entertain myself, I have seen Michael Hedges many times, but Alex is a Giant.
+Bad Blues Dad I agree 100% I have listened to this song since I was 17 and I still get chills towards the end. You can feel the end is near and it is heartbreaking. This composition or overture or art is so inspiring and sad at the same time. It's powerful shit, to be honest. Alex would say otherwise.
Bad Blues Dad Same here brother. It takes me back to 1984, my sophomore year in college.
I couldn't agree more... the last twenty seconds make me swoon....
Alex De Grassi - I first heard him playing in the dorm at Stanford Universtiy in 1978. He and Will Ackerman used to put on free coffee house gigs in the dorm. It inspired me to learn fingerstyle guitar. Love the music from Alex and Will.
Most envious Bill! Seeing DeGrassi in the very early stages puts you in a pretty rare catagory. Did you also see M Hedges much back in the 70s/early 80s at the time of AB and BITF? That would have been the greatest.
Such control and precision, a true master!
I fist heard of Alex and other Windham Hill artists while listening to a weekly Sunday night jazz radio program, while studying for my college finals. I was fortunate to see Alex and other Windham Hill artists live in performance.
This song brings me so far back in time and I remember everything in my life in that time period, the sadness and the happiness at the same time, this is an extraordinary piece of music, my favorite of any music anywhere. My son was not out of his Mothers womb when this was being played back then, now he's 32 and a classical guitar player himself and I recently sent him the sheet music for this song, I hope he learns it soon, it would mean so much to me.
That's awesome man did your son finally learn this song?
I pretty much love the whole Windham Hill catalog
I went through my late teens mid 80's and till today covet all the Early Ackerman era Windham Hill.
After selling the company it wasn't the same after.
I have loved this for many years. One of the most lyrical and melodic pieces ever written for acoustic guitar. Thank you Alex.
Who could give that song a thumbs down
I first heard this song 28 yrs ago. Amazes me till this day!! Beautiful !!
I could study this for hours. The individual phrases are simply fascinating as it progresses. Over the decades, like any great work, it has become a part of who we are.
Just as beautiful as when I saw it first performed live in 1978 as the opening act before John Fahey @ The Great American Music Hall in SF !!!
love this album takes me back to the 80"s i use to put the tape on repeat to hear over and over.
It's amazing that a song that is essentially a record of a trip can evoke such a variety of feelings within me. At times I am hyped up and excited, other times pensive and contemplative. I too, like many other commenters below, have listened to this many hundreds of times. Each time is special. Surely one of the most beautiful pieces of guitar music ever written.
What an incredible way to spend a life...making music like this. Wow.
I stumbled across a interview on the radio between 2 people back in 78 and then this guy started playing his guitar. I couldn't believe it was only 1 player. The sound was so full , like an orchestra. Been hooked ever since.
I've just started learning this, wish me luck!
you got it?
Update! I wanna learn this so much
THIS SONG IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES IT TAKES ME BACK TO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG STATESMAN
This song takes you on a journey. Beautiful rendition.
Magnífico!! Soy de Andalucía -de Granada- y para mí la guitarra tiene un alma especial. Tú, mi querido maestro, la haces doblemente bella. GRACIAS!!!
So great.
Alex De Grassi got me through a few rough times while on Active Duty US Army Infantry. His music and playing style can accompany a tour of Heaven.
yea...this may be my all time fave YT vid...and this vers has Much more flavor than the orig. Amazing.
This is one of those magical songs that transport me to a different time and place. It's like the smoky trails of a musical incense.
Think this is the first piece I ever heard by Alex----way back then! And it is still stunningly beautiful now!
My wife and I heard Alex live about 15 years ago in a small town theater in Fall River Mills, California. I've never experienced a concert quite like it - captivating, intimate and exquisitely beautiful. A rare gem of a memory!
Love this piece - thanks!
Yea man...I dont know what it is but its absolutely magnificent
my dad had a tape of this song and never knew who it was by, he used to record himself playing guitar on old tapes but never had the heart to record this song. a few years ago i discovered that you can ask your phone what a certain song is and it popped up. haven't stopped listing since
Wow, this is really good
This man is Exellent Beautiful Music
My Favorite Acoustic Guitar piece that my Son was raised on back in the day and now he plays Classical Guitar too. I'd like to think he did because of listening to this song and others over and over, Alex Degrassi is also my favorite Guitarist even though there are so many others too, this tune makes me feel so many memories good and bad, but always a beautiful tune.
Incomprehenisble
Chills and goosebumps...what more can be said?
Grande Alex!!! Ascoltando questo tuo meraviglioso finger-pickin`, e le magiche note che produci con la tua maestria e padronanza dello strumento, mi hanno fatto pensare al grande genio e poeta Nick Drake....grazie davvero!!!
A masterpiece within a masterpiece.
Alex De Grassi, makes the most beautiful sounds of a guitar known to man.
songs within songs a n do stories. God Bless his soul
one of the best guitar players ever Have loved his music for years
The only bummer is that he puts it up here, and then tweaks it so it cannot be download and enjoyed. grrrrrrr
Love this song.
incredible
Loved all his music for decades!
I have the tape and finally i can see the master in action... thanks for your music and for those beautiful memories.
there are some incredible arpeggios going on here! WOW
Such technique...! This will always be a favorite composition of mine.
Beautiful to hear and see a master at work!
el tipo te emociona de la forma en la que toca, gracias youtube por todo lo que nos das
Very nice!!!!
His playing is very nice, I enjoy it!
This and 'Causeway' have been my favorite guitar solos for eons. To me, when in comes to guitar, Alex can do NO wrong. And never having been able to see him in concert, what a blessing it is to see these videos!
Brilliant.
Stunning!
I really like Alex. I got turned on to him through the Winham Hill label. I was always a Michael Hedges fan and then learned about Shadowfax and then Alex de Grassi and others like Will Ackerman. Alex De Grassi has grown on me over the years as a proficient and humble musician who has composed some fantastic music which, sadly, are not widely known. I think this is the first tune from him. It's lovely.
I likle your style
Beautiful ... I used to have this album on vinyl before I got rid of all my vinyl stuff ... and I have missed it. I should have taken the time to convert to digital format. What an incredible musician.
The incomparable Alex De Grassi...
it's very strange to listen this beatiful song again after about 30 years
A true master.
I like the way he plays guitar :D
amazing playing!
Superb. Great music.
I just found this tune. At first I thought it was a bit meandering but on repeated views it has grown on me. Definitely an aquired taste. The tremolo part is sublime.
Speechless! Wouldn’t you love to have Alex as your guitar teacher?
Questo brano straordinario, consacrò De Grassi come la la mano destra del diavolo; il cui controllo è terrificante, splendido e sublime. Nella seconda parte del brano dai 2'30" sino alla fine, la sua mano destra è un metronomo; preciso , di una pulizia assoluta nonostante la velocità e gli accenti.
La sua tecnica strumentale e compositiva, anche nei più intensi momenti di virtuosismo, lascia sempre spazio ad aperture intimistiche sublimi e mai stucchevoli che lo consacrano come il più grande chitarrista di guitar steel, lontanissimo dai giri di arpeggi ripetitivi della gran parte dei suoi collegni, nessuno escluso. Solo Pierre Bensusan ha una sua concezione di composizione abbastanza simile..
Gorgeous rendition of one of my favorite Alex pieces. Hope to hear you live again soon!
Amazing Journey.
AMAZING!!!!
keep up the great work and dont lose your passion!
This rendition is... flawless! Thank you Alex, you just keep getting better and better!
I just got the tabs for this song as part of a "Best of Alex de Grassi" book from www.stropes.com and have started learning how to play this beautiful piece. Stropes has very high quality transcriptions if anyone is interested in learning finger-style songs like this one.
Amazing guitarist. Never hear of him up to now.
Educated now.
DJVista: 44 now and somewhat educated :-)
Reminds me of Paco de lucia with the chord substitutions.
Top stuff.
He expresses his melodies clearer than most of those Windham Hill Guys.
Windham Hill Guys? Who are we talking about? David Qualey? Michael Hedges? Will Ackerman? Who was not expressive in this bunch? In the 1980's when this stuff came out all of it it blew me away. Alex is a genius of a composer and after Slow Circle I think he would be considered one the greatist guitar composers of all time.
Incredible....anyone know the tuning for this?
I have been listening to this piece for EVER! Thank you for postiing it. Also, if you let us know where to get the sheet music/tabs, I promise I will not tell anyone that you have your capo on upside down! Thanks much, Alex!! -Derek PS Added to my "Favs"
The way be controls his picking hand control is crazy,
still great!
Well done.
Bravo!!!
This studio looks familiar...
Eu Sinceramente adorei a música o cara toca bem Demais Ótimo
Alex is incredible and i have been listening to him for years. To all camera operators filming a musician...most of us want to see the fretting hand most of the time, also closeups of the face are unnecessary for singers. Thanks.
Signature sound, the Holdsworth of the Acoustic guitar world.
Look at his flipping nails on his right hand. Wild! Great player.
Okay, probably a dumb question, but I'm curious about what seem to be glue on fingernails on the right hand. Seems like a great idea. I assume Alex removes them otherwise.
+Chuck Wyatt He goes to a nail salon every 2-3 weeks and has an acrylic compound pasted over his natural nails. He used to play with a thumb pick and natural nails but he said they kept breaking and/or wearing down. I love this piece too :)
It is actually not uncommon among classical/flamenco guitar players. I know several Flamenco players who are very fastidious about their right hand nail care. Blackbooks78 is correct.
Thanks for the insight, BlackbooksNothing else sounds or feels like your own fingernails. Also, don't forget that he's playing steel strings, not like the much softer nylon of classical and flamenco guitar. Can't do it without reinforcement for his nails. Getting them done regularly is definitely the way to go.
grande
Wow
I love a good ass-kicking by a great guitarist. It makes me want to work harder. Thank you Alex, you are absolutely brilliant!
Something about the way he plays.. I’d know it was him playing even if I didn’t know the song
when i saw it was 8 minutes i was very dubious as to whether i woulld listen to it all. but it's really gooood :)