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- Introduction
- B Section
- Ostinato Section
- Popular Music
- Adding The Melody
- Recapitulation
- Conclusion
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
York wrote Sunburst in 1986 and recorded it on his first album, “Perfect Sky,” with steel strings, though John Williams later recorded it with nylon strings. Tune the first and sixth strings to D for this piece. The D tuning allows for a constant drone in the bass. York plays the melody, this ascending D scale, almost entirely on the second string ...
In the B section, which returns to D in the bass, York resolves seconds to thirds while descending down a D major scale in the upper voices. A sixteenth-note figure in the bass foreshadows what is to come later in the piece. Then, in the sixth bar of the B section, two harmonics outline a plagal cadence. This is a movement from our IV chord (G majo...
York has observed that many players struggle to play a clear hammer-on with the first finger in the context of this passage. Don’t ghost the D in the second beat – make sure it’s clear and grooving. “What makes this phrase successful is when the rhythm is very consistent.” Even very good guitarists sometimes tend to hammer-on a bit too early.
In York’s opinion, classical music tends to lack an awareness of modern musical styles. Incorporating popular music styles like jazz, rock and roll, and Latin music into his pieces allows York to keep the music relevant. These styles typically have very high energy and excitement that classical music sometimes lacks. This ostinato requires an aware...
After two bars of ostinato, the theme appears. The first notes of the theme are B, C♯, and D (the first three notes of the opening melody). The second time we hear this theme, a pick-up note is added for more interest. Repetition is a powerful compositional device that strengthens ideas and gives the listener something to grab onto. However, repeat...
A common trap in the melody is for players to shorten the second bar of the piece to a 7/8 bar and put the last note on the downbeat of the next measure. Even though there is no note on the downbeat of measure 3, be sure that you are feeling the subdivisions and not short-changing any beats. The coda should build significantly into the last figure....
As you can see, York’s approach to blending diverse influences with vibrant youth give Sunburst its qualities that make it so memorable. If you’d like to watch the lesson on this topic for free, just click here. Ready to learn more about repertoire like this and make real progress in your guitar studies? Click below to start your tonebase membershi...
Learn how to play Sunburst, a classic piece by Andrew York that blends classical, jazz, and Latin influences. Discover the form, harmony, rhythm, and technique of this guitar masterpiece with tonebase.
Andrew York, world-renowned GRAMMY-winning guitarist/composer offers New Music for Guitar. MP3s, CDs and Sheet Music from Majian Music.
York has over 50 works published for guitar: solo, duo, trio, quartet, and ensemble. He has appeared in three DVDs, has recorded or appeared as soloist on more than ten albums, and has published a three-volume work on jazz for classical guitarists.
A live performance of Andrew York playing his composition "Sunburst" (AKA Jubilation), with the Introduction. Sheet music available here: https://andrewyork....
