Catgut Flambo by Guitar x 2 Harris Becker & Pasquale Bianculli

Becker to be part of Florida's Artist Residency program, giving lecture/demonstrations on the history of the guitar, including performances on the lute and Baroque guitar. Mr. Becker has been on the music faculties of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and Director of Music for Mixed Ensembles at the International Institute for Chamber Music at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich.

During the 2001-2, season Mr. Becker presented two series of lectures, “Exploring Music” and Aspects of 20th Century American Music at the Bruce Museum of Art in Greenwich, Connecticut. In the summer of 2001 Mr. Becker participated in the Summer Chamber Music Festival at Long Island University giving master classes and a concert with the Pierrot Consort and at the “III International Guitar Festival Pro-musica/SESC” in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. His transcriptions and editions are published by T.D. Ellis Music Publishing.

PAT BIANCULLI has been heard in concert across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. In 1983, he made his New York solo debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Tim Page, of the New York Times, describing the performance said, “…a sensitive musician…he juxtaposed workmanlike playing with passages of real inspiration”. Of his Nocturnal by Benjamin Britten …”{He} was true to the works improvisatory quality, calling up some ominous, shimmering overtones from the instrument”.

Pat began playing the guitar at the age of 13 under Joseph Cassano. His earliest musical influence was his father, Philip, an accomplished woodwind player and jazz musician. In 1972, he began intensive study in classical guitar at the Guitar Workshop in Oyster Bay, NY under Jerry Willard and Edgard Dana, Other teachers and coaches have included Alexandre Lagoya, Angel Romero and Timothy Walker. He received his M. Mus. degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1981. That year he also performed for the legendary guitarist, Andres Segovia, in Granada, Spain. He has been on the faculties of Dowling College and the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado and has taught at the Edna Manley School of the Arts in Kingston, Jamaica, performing throughout that country. Currently, he is on the faculty of C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the United Nations International School.

He has written two books; “101 Tips and Tricks for the Acoustic Guitar” and “Learn Folk Guitar with the Music of John Denver” published by Cherry Lane Music. He performs regularly in duo with his wife, Kathleen McDonald and with guitarist, Harris Becker. In 1999, the guitar duo released their CD, “Catgut Flambo”. Pat is a co-founder of “A Midsummer Music Festival – Songe d’été en musique".

Since 1976, Harris Becker and Pasquale Bianculli have been both friends and musical partners. It was during that year when they performed their first recital as a duo while students of Jerry Willard. As Guitar x 2, they have been featured artists and teachers in schools and on recital series throughout the New York area. In 2002, composer/guitarist Carlo Domeniconi composed "Long Island Suite, op. 101" for the duo, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Long Island Guitar Festival. In addition to classical music, they also enjoy jazz, world music and the Beatles.

Their 1999 release, "Catgut Flambo" has been heard on WNYC-FM in New York, Connecticut Public Radio, Radio Kerry in Ireland, and Radio Canada. Recent concerts will include performances at "Guitar Intensives" in Blue Hill, Maine and at the Moulin Berniere Museum in Courcelles, Quebec. This summer, Pat and Harris will be teaching at the festival, “A Midsummer Music Dream/ Songe d’été en musique”, which they started in 2006 with Kathleen McDonald. Visit their web site at: www.midsummermusiquebec.com

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