An Orchestra of ONLY Guitars?

January 17, 2018 5:54 AM

Has anyone ever put only guitars in an orchestra, creating atmospheric or ambient music and then recorded it awesomely? Please no mention of fake guitars/synthetics. Only actual players, with a cool vibe, talent and technique. TIA
posted by watercarrier to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Glenn Branca has composed symphonies 'for orchestras of electric guitars and percussion' (example).
posted by misteraitch at 6:03 AM on January 17, 2018 [5 favorites]

You can try your luck with Niibori Guitar Orchestra (Japan). I don't have time to go through all their vids.
posted by whitelotus at 6:04 AM on January 17, 2018

Has anyone ever put only guitars in an orchestra
Yes! For example, the Barcelona Guitar Orchestra

creating atmospheric or ambient music
The brief search I did in response to your question turns up mostly classical music oriented ensembles.
posted by thelonius at 6:05 AM on January 17, 2018

Glenn Branca did a symphony for 100 guitars. I've seen him live many years ago, and I wouldn't exactly call it ambient, but it might be worth checking out....
posted by Umami Dearest at 6:05 AM on January 17, 2018

Robert Fripp did.
posted by flabdablet at 6:18 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Rhys Chatham has written some works for large numbers of guitars, e.g., A Crimson Grail (for 400 Electric Guitars).
posted by dfan at 6:43 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Adrian Utley from Portishead recorded a version of Terry Riley's In C with his Guitar Orchestra.
posted by sleeping bear at 8:49 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Howard Shore's soundtrack for the David Cronenberg movie Crash is an electric guitar ensemble, with orchestral backing. It's designed to be moody and atmospheric. Here's a suite selection of highlights.

Steve Reich has written pieces for electric guitar:

* Electric Guitar Phase (based on Violin Phase, using an ensemble of four guitars)
* Electric Counterpoint (two electric bass guitars, and seven electric guitars -- more info here).
posted by rollick at 10:15 AM on January 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

I was also going to mention Rhys Chatham; Mr MMDP took part in this performance of A Secret Rose a few years back.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 10:39 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Not a recording, but the group Boat Burning organizes a (great!) yearly show Music for 100 Guitars in DC.
posted by veery at 1:23 PM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

A friend of mine has played in Glenn Branca's 100-guitar symphonies, a couple of times.
posted by culfinglin at 1:54 PM on January 17, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks for the replies everyone. The offerings are interesting and eclectic and interestingly they sound similar. Still open to hearing about melodic and ambient pieces played in a guitar grouping. In afterthought I should have put in *exquisite* into the OP as being a primary factor. So this thread is being kept open just a tad more.
posted by watercarrier at 9:17 PM on January 17, 2018

You might like the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Their rendition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is a favorite and is most definitely exquisite.
posted by Wet Spot at 10:58 PM on January 24, 2018