Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future

Dedicated to a Better Future Through World Fusion Music

Subscribers to the Ancient Future Times wrote to suggest that Ancient Future offer virtual concerts during the pandemic and beyond. A new series of Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future was created in response. Matthew Montfort was the inaugural performer with a 30 minute live concert on his birthday, February 12, 2021. His improvisational scalloped fretboard guitar performance was streamed and recorded on Zoom.

With over two dozen musicians who live in different cities and perform together in various configurations, arranging an ensemble performance during a pandemic is a considerable challenge. But as vaccinations roll out and the weather warms, it should be possible to stream outdoor group concerts later in the year with enough financial and technical support. Setting up tours requires extensive investments of time and resources, so even when the pandemic is in the rear view mirror, Ancient Future plans on continuing to stream live concerts to reach fans all over the world.

In the meantime, more solo performances and call-and-response round robins are in the works featuring master musicians such as Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Shenshen Zhang (pipa), and Faisal Zedan (Syrian percussion).

To sign up for upcoming shows, simply send your email address to info@ancient-future.com. Put "Alternate Reality Concert" in the subject. You will receive a link to participate before each performance. There's no charge, but donations are accepted.

Watch and Share the First Video from the Alternate Reality

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort

Watch:
Sympathetic Serenade YouTube Video

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https://youtu.be/smFCU30iWjE

When Matthew Montfort was working on his debut solo recording for scalloped fretboard guitar (a special guitar modified to enable ornaments characteristic of the sitar), he recorded a number of spontaneously improvised serenades. Were it not for some serendipitous sequencing coupled with the allure of alliteration, it's likely that Sympathetic Serenade would have been released as the eighth improvisation on what became Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. Instead, this evocative serenade was released as a mini EP to rave reviews, prompting his addition to DigitalDreamDoor.com's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list. Inclusion on the list is based on originality, innovation, technique, and influence on other acoustic guitarists. In this live recording from the inaugural performance of the Alternate Reality Concert Series from the Ancient Future, he revisits the piece with a new interpretation on his custom Martin scalloped fretboard guitar in which he expands on the original's use of the melodic elements of Rag Bhairavi and mixes in chordal structures from Spanish guitar music.

Sympathetic Serenade Mini EP

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com EP AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. SALE $10. Buy CD Now. iTunes. >YTmusic. Educational Digital Liner Notes- $1.98 (SALE $1.50): Buy Liner Notes Now.