Maui Slack Key Preludes Vol. 2
Maui Slack Key Preludes Vol. 2
This second volume of my "classicized" slack key preludes fuse the Hawaiian tradition's deep resonance, nostalgia, and undulating tonic-dominant harmonies (like ocean waves!) with classical Spanish guitar. As such, they are not traditional Hawaiian slack key pieces, yet the fusion is a natural one, since slack key originated from 19th century Mexican and Spanish cowboys (paniolo who brought their guitars and taught Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys).
Volume 2 includes 8 pieces:
1. Plumeria
2. Kula
3. Paia
4. Nahiku Beach
5. Swinging Bridges (Waihe'e Valley)
6. Silversword
7. Kihei
8. Blue Pool
The prelude titles reflect specific parts of Maui, each with its own unique spirit, but as a whole, they reflect my desire to recapture the special relaxed aloha so intrinsic and essential to Maui’s beauty.
Plumeria—the pervasive and delicately fragrant white, yellow, or red flowering trees found all over the island
Kula—the forested mountains way Upcountry with gorgeous views looking across the central valley of the island.
Paia—is the charming relaxed town that marks the beginning of the road to Hana
Nahiku Beach—the very end of Nahiku road a few miles north of Hana that is the epitome of paradise
Waihe’e Valley (Swinging Bridges)—two precarious narrow wooden plank bridges on a trail following a river in the Waihe'e Valley in the lush West Maui mountains.
Silversword—the rare white cactus found only atop Mt. Haleakala
Kihei—the beach town for the “common folk” south of the resorts that I find to be a treasure with a special aloha all its own
Blue Pool—this most idyllic of Maui's waterfall pools (now off limits to tourists) captures the
deepest essence of Hawaii —and what I'm searching for with these guitar preludes