FREE Tuesday Coffee Concert: Randall Ferguson-The History & Evolution of the Guitar

Classical & flamenco guitarist Randall Ferguson will present a program on the evolution of the guitar on Tuesday morning, October 1 st , 10:30, at the Hastings Arts Center. He will be playing several guitars, both antique and modern, dating from 1785, 1830, 1850, 1898, and 1917, to present. They will include Renaissance and Baroque lutes, the vihuela, (a 12 string renaissance guitar), civil war era and classic 1890s banjos, ukulele, and classical and flamenco guitars. Mr. Ferguson will be playing music representing the history of the guitar, from the 16th century renaissance court music of Europe to the exciting syncopated dance rhythms of Spanish flamenco. This
program is made possible by a grant from the Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council.

Randall Ferguson has studied with guitarists Michael Hauser, John Duarte, and Carlos Barbosa-Lima. He has performed in Mexico City and on Mexican National Television as well as in flamenco clubs in Madrid, Spain. In addition to performing and private guitar instruction, he taught music for 38 years in the Farmington school district. He also taught several classes on ethnomusicology and music history for 20 years through the Department of Continuing Studies in the Graduate School of Hamline University, in St. Paul. He is presently the senior choir director at the Northfield United Methodist Church. Mr. Ferguson lives in Northfield, Minnesota, with his wife, Audrey, Rosie the Chow chow and Riley, the cat.

“In a combination recital/lecture/demonstration format, I play and talk about the history and evolution of the guitar, its design and music. Using both antique and modern instruments, my performance spans 500 years of acoustic guitar music. My repertoire ranges from renaissance court music to the exciting syncopated dance rhythms of Spanish flamenco. In my program, I use several instruments, from renaissance lute and vihuela to present day concert guitars.”