The Virtuous Circle 2021

[Michael Watts]

Hello everyone,

I just uploaded the latest in my One Take series and in this video I revisit an older piece of mine The Virtuous Circle from my debut album Vetiver.

I'm playing my Kostal MDW signature model captured by a pair of Gefell M300s. This was the first and last take of the night.

The Virtuous Circle is an intimate and demanding piece, an exercise in texture, timbre and Touch (the three T's!) and is played very gently with my fingers barely grazing the strings for most of the performance.

I hope you enjoy it



All the best

Michael

[SprintBob]

That was gorgeous Michael. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. Your virtuosity is inspiring. I’m sure Mr. Kostal has a grin from ear to ear when he hears you play.

[Glennwillow]

Michael, that was beautiful!

It was intimate! Great playing and what an incredible guitar!

I own your Vetiver album, so I recognize this piece. But it's great to hear it played like this. The rain sounds like what I live with all winter long in the US Pacific Northwest, where the weather is a lot like the UK weather, except maybe it drizzles here a lot more than we actually get hard rain.

Take care Michael.

- Glenn

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

That was gorgeous Michael. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. Your virtuosity is inspiring. I’m sure Mr. Kostal has a grin from ear to ear when he hears you play.

Thank you so much for listening Bob. This was recorded at the end of a very busy day - I had been planning something else but I've learned to be receptive to whatever happens regardless of the plan!

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Michael, that was beautiful!

It was intimate! Great playing and what an incredible guitar!

I own your Vetiver album, so I recognize this piece. But it's great to hear it played like this. The rain sounds like what I live with all winter long in the US Pacific Northwest, where the weather is a lot like the UK weather, except maybe it drizzles here a lot more than we actually get hard rain.

Take care Michael.

- Glenn

Thank you Glenn, I'm really happy you enjoyed it! I hope you and your family are keeping safe and sane.

All the best

Michael

[reeve21]

Beautiful piece and playing. It’s raining as I listen, very fitting soundtrack to the day

[islandguitar]

Michael, that was special, intimate and inspiring!
Your sense of phrasing and "space" is always beautiful and this piece really showcases those wonderful traits.
Thanks for posting this!
Regards,
Fred

[steveh]

Michael, your self-penned bagatelles are always a joy:
Interestingly composed and very sensitively played.

Cheers,
Steve

[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by reeve21

Beautiful piece and playing. It’s raining as I listen, very fitting soundtrack to the day

Originally Posted by islandguitar

Michael, that was special, intimate and inspiring!
Your sense of phrasing and "space" is always beautiful and this piece really showcases those wonderful traits.
Thanks for posting this!
Regards,
Fred

Originally Posted by steveh

Michael, your self-penned bagatelles are always a joy:
Interestingly composed and very sensitively played.

Cheers,
Steve

Thank you very much for listening guys, it's strange how music will come back after years. I'd played this piece maybe a handful of times in concert since the album came out. It's a very focused experience and sometimes a tough one to come back from. At the end of a slightly surreal day it just seemed to make sense.

All the best

Michael

[rémy64]

Excellent !!!!!

[rmp]

That is a beautiful composition. Loved it! Thanks for Sharing