THE historic Federation-era Langley Estate will host one of Australia\u2019s most promising guitarists on Sunday, 26 June.<\/p>\n
Maldon-based Clancy McLeod has put together a program featuring classic guitar pieces titled A Dream in the Forest<\/em>, exploring themes of grief, loss and love of the natural environment.<\/p>\n \u201cI put this program together after the [2012-20] black summer bushfires,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking music about virtuosity and ego just didn\u2019t seem meaningful to me so I\u2019ve put this program together of pieces that really move me and speak to my feelings about the grief I was going through about the destruction of nature and the forests of eastern Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n McLeod\u2019s diverse program features emotional pieces such as La Catedral<\/em> by early 20th century guitarist Agust\u00edn Barrios, Chaconne<\/em> by Bach, and Invocacion y Danza <\/em>by Joaqu\u00edn Rodrigo.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old, who was raised in Alice Springs and now lives on a property on Mount Tarrengower, said his connection to nature inspires him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe magic of the desert in central Australia will always be inside me and I like to think it comes through when I\u2019m playing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI live on a beautiful property in Mount Tarrengower at the moment and walks in the bush, I\u2019m constantly absorbing the beauty of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n McLeod is taking his concert across the state, from Horsham to Bendigo, with concerts at Eltham, Castlemaine, Ararat, Shepparton, and Daylesford.<\/p>\n He said everywhere he plays he strives for intimacy and an emotional connection with the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to communicate and speak to my audience,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m trying to give them something special and if I don\u2019t have people coming away with tears then I feel like I haven\u2019t done my job.\u201d<\/p>\n