This brings back happy memories. I used to hear this Llobet arrangement before I realized it was played on a guitar. To me it was simply music that my parents played on the "record player." They had an album of Rey de la Torre playing it -- an LP from 1959 called "The Romantic Guitar." I was only five years old then. I knew every note of every piece on that recording by heart, but I never visualized the pieces played on a guitar. The pieces were just musical stories. Later in life, when I was 13 or so and had been dabbling with electric guitar for a few years, I heard "Spanish Caravan" by The Doors. It sounded very familiar. It was, of course, borrowed from the flamenco form "granadinas," which is where Albeniz got his theme for "Leyenda." So I learned to play "Spanish Caravan" on a nylon-string guitar and loved it. This experience led me to search through my parents' records, where I found among the Sinatra, the Chipmunks, and the Broadway musicals an album with a picture of a guy sitting in a garden playing a nylon-string guitar. I put it on and the first cut was "Spanish Dance No.5." And wow, I knew every note of it! I knew the whole story of it by heart. I wanted to play it, so I decided I should learn to read music. I went to the library and found Fred Noad's "Solo Guitar Playing" and got to work. I was 14 years old. Several years later, at the age of 22, I was a professional player and teacher. One day I asked another guitarist, who was a very advanced local classical guitarist whose playing I admired, if he would give me a few lessons. "Why don't you call my teacher?" he said. "Who's that?" I replied. "Rey de la Torre," he said. After the shock passed, I said, "But he's in Cuba or Spain or someplace!" "No, he's in Fremont." Fremont was 20 miles away. It took me two days to get up the nerve to call Rey. I spent the summer taking lessons from him. He started me on the Carcassi and Sor studies, but I was anxious to get to the Llobet arrangements. Llobet was his teacher, after all. I somehow persuaded him to teach me Llobet's arrangement of "La Maja de Goya." What a great experience that was! I could write a book about that summer, but I'll wrap up by saying again that hearing you play this music so beautifully brings back good memories. Wishing you the best. John
Fifty years ago, I was having lessons and started learning this beautiful piece as a teenager. Foolishly I never continued playing and lost all my music scores, but I kept my guitar virtually unused, hoping one day to have the time to restart. Retirement was the opportunity I needed, and I started again 18 months ago at the start of lockdown. I still remembered playing this piece but could not remember more than the first bar. I couldn’t even remember the name or composer to find the score. So thank you for posting this lovely performance👏👏👏👏 (and for reminding me what it’s called!). YOU’VE MADE MY DAY. I now have the score and can enjoy learning it all over again! 😄😄😄😄
@@davidjaggs already found and on my iPad. You have inspired me. 👍👍. Plan to tackle today! My fingers are a bit older and slower but still work. Thanks again. You are a 🌟 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'll have too relearn this classic I'd studied it with Tim kain years ago , I suggest too you David his cd mantis and the moon played with John Williams in that cd
@@davidjaggs Yeah, I admit it was a very dumb joke, I don't blame you :D by the way, wasn't the part around 2:34 quoted in some piece by Sergio Assad? Every time I hear it I just can't shake off that feeling... or am I just thinking about the ending of Toccata from Sandy's Portrait?
This brings back happy memories. I used to hear this Llobet arrangement before I realized it was played on a guitar. To me it was simply music that my parents played on the "record player." They had an album of Rey de la Torre playing it -- an LP from 1959 called "The Romantic Guitar." I was only five years old then. I knew every note of every piece on that recording by heart, but I never visualized the pieces played on a guitar. The pieces were just musical stories.
Later in life, when I was 13 or so and had been dabbling with electric guitar for a few years, I heard "Spanish Caravan" by The Doors. It sounded very familiar. It was, of course, borrowed from the flamenco form "granadinas," which is where Albeniz got his theme for "Leyenda."
So I learned to play "Spanish Caravan" on a nylon-string guitar and loved it.
This experience led me to search through my parents' records, where I found among the Sinatra, the Chipmunks, and the Broadway musicals an album with a picture of a guy sitting in a garden playing a nylon-string guitar. I put it on and the first cut was "Spanish Dance No.5." And wow, I knew every note of it! I knew the whole story of it by heart.
I wanted to play it, so I decided I should learn to read music. I went to the library and found Fred Noad's "Solo Guitar Playing" and got to work. I was 14 years old.
Several years later, at the age of 22, I was a professional player and teacher. One day I asked another guitarist, who was a very advanced local classical guitarist whose playing I admired, if he would give me a few lessons.
"Why don't you call my teacher?" he said.
"Who's that?" I replied.
"Rey de la Torre," he said.
After the shock passed, I said, "But he's in Cuba or Spain or someplace!"
"No, he's in Fremont."
Fremont was 20 miles away.
It took me two days to get up the nerve to call Rey. I spent the summer taking lessons from him.
He started me on the Carcassi and Sor studies, but I was anxious to get to the Llobet arrangements. Llobet was his teacher, after all.
I somehow persuaded him to teach me Llobet's arrangement of "La Maja de Goya." What a great experience that was!
I could write a book about that summer, but I'll wrap up by saying again that hearing you play this music so beautifully brings back good memories.
Wishing you the best.
John
What a great story. I bet he had many tales to tell.
My goodness what a variety of style you expertly use in this beautiful piece. 👏👌👍💐
Fifty years ago, I was having lessons and started learning this beautiful piece as a teenager. Foolishly I never continued playing and lost all my music scores, but I kept my guitar virtually unused, hoping one day to have the time to restart. Retirement was the opportunity I needed, and I started again 18 months ago at the start of lockdown. I still remembered playing this piece but could not remember more than the first bar. I couldn’t even remember the name or composer to find the score. So thank you for posting this lovely performance👏👏👏👏 (and for reminding me what it’s called!). YOU’VE MADE MY DAY. I now have the score and can enjoy learning it all over again! 😄😄😄😄
What a great story! Hope you learn it soon. You'll get a free score on imslp.
@@davidjaggs already found and on my iPad. You have inspired me. 👍👍. Plan to tackle today! My fingers are a bit older and slower but still work. Thanks again. You are a 🌟 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A masterly performance. Beautiful,
Thanks for watching 👍☺️
Great to hear you play one of the classics. Very enjoyable indeed.
Thanks for watching 👍
I'll have too relearn this classic I'd studied it with Tim kain years ago , I suggest too you David his cd mantis and the moon played with John Williams in that cd
Masterfully interpreted! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching 👍
I love Granados on the guitar ! And your performance is one of exquisite beauty ! I am now perfectly set up for your 'No. 4 ' rendition ...
Thanks ☺️
Woah! These Sagreras etudes are getting more and more exquisite!
Whoops! This is Granados, just for a break from Sagreras! Hope you enjoyed it ☺️
@@davidjaggs Yeah, I admit it was a very dumb joke, I don't blame you :D by the way, wasn't the part around 2:34 quoted in some piece by Sergio Assad? Every time I hear it I just can't shake off that feeling... or am I just thinking about the ending of Toccata from Sandy's Portrait?
You know more than me, I'd not heard about that! Sorry for misunderstanding your joke! 😂
@@davidjaggs Either way, I think Granados himself would be delighted with your playing! :) Cheers!
Yet another virtuoso performance David. Thank you. It was great to listen to you live and have a quick chat at Knockholt a few weeks ago A real treat!
Ah... Good old Knockholt! I always enjoy it there! Didn't I play you this very piece?!
@@davidjaggs I think you did as part of your extensive repertoire 👍
A wonderful piece!!! Excellent presentation!!! All the best friend!!
Thanks for watching, Fernando.
Lovely performance.
Thanks ☺️
👏👏👏👏👏🥰👍❤️🍺
Absolutely loved that piece David .thank you for sharing with us .
👍👍👍
Perfect as always!
Thanks 😊
Marvellous and mellifluous
Thanks!
Классно дружище 👍🎶🎸💯
👍
❤️
🙏
OLEEEEE
😃