Arts
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August 16 - September 5, 2014
51
Acoustic artist yearns for that interaction with audiences BY MEGHAN MCCOY
For acoustic guitarist Peter Biedermann, performing is the ideal way of interacting with the public. “It’s all about connecting with people,” says Biedermann, a 58-year-old Green Valley resident. The finger-style acoustic guitarist will perform at the Downtown Chandler Library, 22 S. Delaware St., from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. For more information, visit www.peterbiedermann.com. Biedermann, who began his musical career close to 40 years ago, has been writing original material for more than 25 years. In a way, he feels like a newbie. “I just feel like I am getting started,” he says. “Every time I pick up my instrument something new comes out.” He has relied on the British school of guitarists to influence him over the last few years. Among his favorites are Davey Graham and Pentangle, the latter of which featured Burt Jansch and John Renbourn. “I sort of, over the years, have crossed both the British and American schools of playing,” he explains. He uses that as the foundation for his shows, which are primarily at libraries. While living in New Jersey, Biedermann discovered the library system. He has performed in nearly 175 libraries throughout New Jersey, New York and New England. “When I moved here (to Arizona) last year, I started making contacts with library
systems,” he explains. Biedermann engages the audience with an interactive program as he showcases his six-string and 12-string guitars while playing original material. “I don’t plan my music before my shows because I want to read my audience,” he explains. Biedermann has more than four hours of material from which to choose. An independent artist, Biedermann has produced more than a dozen CDs. “If you are going to make it in any kind of market, you have to take the bull by the horns and make your own music,” he explains. In addition to exposing the finger style of guitar playing to library audiences, Biedermann says he wants his program to inspire people to explore their own artistic muse. He says he hopes a younger crowd will attend his performance because he finds he can really reach that age group. “With younger people, they are just starting out, and they are at the beginning of their journeys,” Biedermann says. His program, he explains, also touches the older generation as he inspires them to start playing guitar again. Ted Liebler, the Downtown Chandler Public Library’s reference and adult programming librarian, says Biedermann’s performances at the library strengthens the goal of the facility of bringing arts and culture to the public for free.
GUITARIST: Peter Biedermann will perform at the Downtown Chandler Public Library from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Submitted photo
“We have a tradition of bringing in different types of music,” he says. The Downtown Library schedules at least three or four musicians a year. “I get excited about music events because it unifies the community,” Liebler explains.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com