Performances

Pavane by Gabriel Fauré for Classical Ukulele Introduction Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane (Op. 50), has a long, unbroken melodic line and a restrained sense of motion that suits the classical ukulele especially well. In this low-G arrangement, the piece sits in A minor rather than the original F-sharp minor, but it still depends on the same … Read more

Por Ti Mi Corazón by Manuel M. Ponce: background and performance notes for classical guitar Introduction Por Ti Mi Corazón is one of Manuel María Ponce’s most intimate short works for guitar. Though modest in scale, it demanding in terms of tone control, pulse, and phrasing. The melody is song-like while the harmony is warm … Read more

El Testament d’Amelia for Classical Ukulele: Background and Performance Notes El Testament d’Amelia is one of the best-known Catalan folk melodies to enter the classical plucked-string repertoire. Many players first encounter it through Miguel Llobet’s guitar setting, where a simple song is transformed into a compact study in balance, tone, legato, and color. In Jeff’s … Read more

Sleepers Awake! by Bach for Classical Ukulele Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Bach’s famous chorale Sleepers Awake from Cantata BWV 140 is a perfect fit for classical ukulele. Jeff’s arrangement in F major lets the instrument’s natural warmth support the noble, processional character of the music. Set in cut time (2/2), keep a steady … Read more

Come Again by Dowland for Classical Ukulele In this video Jeff Peterson plays his low-G arrangement of the Renaissance Come Again by Dowland for classical ukulele. Come Again is a bittersweet love song by John Dowland from his First Booke of Songes or Ayres (1597), traditionally sung with lute accompaniment but arranged here for solo … Read more

Como Llora una Estrella for Classical Ukulele In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of Como Llora una Estrella for classical ukulele by Antonio Carillo. This piece is a Venezuelan waltz from the early 20th century by Antonio Carrillo, a composer, conductor, and mandolinist. Known as a Joropo, this fast waltz style is typically … Read more

Guardame las Vacas by Narvaez for Classical Ukulele In this video Jeff plays his arrangement of  Diferencias sobre Guardame las Vacas by Luis de Narvaez for Classical Ukulele. Like Gaspar Sanz, Luys de Narváez was a celebrated Spanish composer during the Renaissance era, known for his compositions focused on the vihuela, a predecessor to the … Read more

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik for Classical Ukulele—Performance & Lesson Introduction Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s serenade Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, is one of the most famous works in the classical repertoire. The title simply means “a little night music.” Mozart completed the piece in Vienna on 10 August 1787, during a time of personal and financial difficulty. He had been forced to move his … Read more