I heard Segovia twice towards the end of his life in the 1980s. He was already in his 90s. He played in the large Symphony Hall, Boston (which has excellent acoustics). The audience was rock still for the two hours he played. Not an empty seat in the house--2600 people in attendance. You could hear every note, nothing was amplified--completely acoustical. These two concerts were perhaps the most memorable of any I have ever attended in my 73 years. His musicianship and technique and soul are unmatched even today. A gift to humanity with such amazing artistry.
True, this technique is not available to anyone. It has a thousand nuances and expressions. His phrases are impressively expressive. The composers who dedicated works for guitar to him were impressed by his way of interpreting them and he improved the scores. There is a lot of musical ignorance and lack of knowledge about the guitar in people today. Many people only pay attention to the speed of the scales and the strength of the playing. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
These days a bunch of idiots in front would be hooting and hollering so everyone would know how cultured they were. Just watch SRV unplugged to see what I mean. SRV was another expressive player from a different era. Still underrated. Could be flashy when he wanted to, as well.
@@Fly4aWhiteGuy I don't think the kind of audiences this guy pulled were of the type to be hooting and hollering.its a classical music recital not a rock gig
I had the privilege of seeing him play when I was 16 he was amazing. A chair, a foot stool, a guitar, and him. No light show, wah wah pedal, auto-tune, nothing. Most amazing performance I have ever seen. I have worked in and around music 40 years and nothing compares to watching a master perform. He would have been in his 60's then but played with the energy of a 20 year old. No brakes 3 hours of jamming. I wish I could see a concert video of that performance.
you know pretty much nothing about classical guitar , it's technique or style .to even make the comparison with electric guitars wah wah pedals auto tune etc etc is a ludicrous comparison. as if more modern classical guitarists used all these effects, I mean it's an absurd comment. If you go to see any modern classical guitarist you get exactly what you described from Segovia. a chair and a guitar . here th-cam.com/video/OabBda-0Q_A/w-d-xo.html now you can tell me how 'souless' this is compared to his excellency the maestro, and all the other driveling bollocks people are spewing out here as they grovel
@UCp5tsqHPFHD3sOeYQ3VKLyg He wasn't comparing modern classical guitarists to Segovia. He was comparing regular rock/pop guitarists to Segovia. You just went off on some weird rampage and only made yourself look illiterate. You quoted the word soulless even though OP never used that word.
OK, I see so much hate towards Segovia on youtube, and frankly, it's pathetic! Firstly, MEDIOCRE? REALLY? Bare in mind that the ONLY recordings we have of him are when he was already an old man! He was born in 1893 for Christ's sake, so even recordings from the mid to late 1930s (which are usually of very poor sound quality, because of the restrictions of recording equipment) would see the Maestro in his mid 40s! There is also, on youtube, a video recording of Segovia in a Paris apartment, with the Eiffel tower clearly visible outside his window, and his playing (including the Op. 9 Mozart Variations by Sor) is SPECTACULAR! Almost everything else we have though is from the 1950s and 1960s onwards (Segovia in his 60s and 70s) I believe that THIS recording may be from the 1970s Los Olivos programme; Segovia then in his 80s!!! Tell me, what EIGHTY YEAR OLD could play the Gavotte en Rondeau like THAT!? Now, modern guitarists....there are a LOT (myself included) and some are really, really amazing...technically. But I have noticed that the one thing that most modern guitarists are REALLY poor at is vibrato. It seems like it is completely absent in some, and very weak in the rest. Why? Because of a fixation on purely reproducing note values without too much "personality" in the playing. The guitar, in my humble opinion, thrives on being able to show colour and personality, yet the "modern school" totally teaches against this. As a result the guitar becomes nothing but a "harpsichord on your lap", without tonal variety, or vibrato. Personally I find that sort of playing very, VERY dull! One final thing to consider, Segovia taught HIMSELF to play. He had a small amount of flamenco tuition as a boy, but learned (in his own words) very little. He basically got the works of Sor, Giuliani, Carcassi and Aguado and taught HIMSELF to play! He also modernised the technique, to include fingernails, something not commonly done, previously....and inspired many composers to write for the guitar. The instrument, and EVERYONE who plays it owes him an enormous debt of gratitude; not the constant disrespect that is so en vogue these days.
+Gary Ormond I don't think you need to defend Segovia, the work stands on its own. Most people that criticise are likely using midi backing and multitracking to cover holes in their abilities. Also, Segovia is from a different time, access to information and exposure to ideas concepts was much more difficult - he didn't have the internet as a copy cat learning tool - he had to develop technique in relative isolation and within his circle - people these days hear of a technique, get a tutorial with close up fingers and an experts explanation breakdown of how and why - different worlds of thought. Soul is something that is hard fought for over time, just listening to this piece tells you he isn't mechanically perfecting a piece, he is sharing his experience of this music with us - its a different concept than most people comprehend.
You sir are spot on. He is surely a most amazing musician. And you are exactly right on your modern guitar player theory. Everyone I know tunes down a step or two. Ridiculous! I tune standard 440 and my drop a half step sometimes but that's it. The strings loose the "pop" or character they have when down tuned so much. And vibrato is extremely missing in guitar playing these days! Cheers!!
Thank you for putting things into perspective. Detractors are a nasty bunch anyway. Maestro Segovia was indeed a Grand Master, and in his time he must have been something of a great rarity, just like Pablo Casals. There's depth and life in his playing, and here he brings plenty of life to the Old Kapellmeister. Thank you for posting this gem.
One of many lessons I've learned from Segovia is that he never lets his playing get ahead of the music. He analyzes the manuscript and hears the phrases and nuances and embellishments always as he executes each note. His technique serves the music always.
My father took me to see Segovia when I was seventeen years old. Up until then I thought I was a pretty good guitarist. All the thumbs down are from guitarists who feel completely incompetent.
It is the difference between someone who is really good at somethng and someone who is an actual master. He couldn't just play someone else's work, he painstakingly worked to understand and translate it. We seem to have nearly lost people like him in our world today. He comes off to me as artist like Rembrant who may have lost his exacting detail as he aged but developed a spectrum of depth in his art that completely overtook everthing else around him. He's confident, but only from his depth of the beauty of the music which he plays and his ability to understand it.. This guy doesn't just play, he exudes the music he plays. You dont have to be a muscian or watch a video to feel the emotion and depth behind his playing.
Like how a master artist can just scribble and it still somehow looks curious, but a student (while technically proficient) would just make a unappealing mess.
In 1973 I took classical lessons The conservatory , Avenue Rd, Toronto. Mr. Segovia was my idle and the father of Classical guitar in my life. He deserves respect of the art.
I studied classical guitar and have long slender fingers. From a physics point of view the longer your fingers the harder it is to make fast precise movements. The length of the lever is longer so a smaller muscle movement results in a larger movement of the finger tips on a longer finger compared to a shorter finger. So having short fingers is in some ways a gift when it comes to playing classical guitar.
Segovia was a master of classical guitar. He is the reason for classical guitar. He is the one who transcribed Bach for guitar. He has no match as he plays at the most elevated level of creativity which transcends into the ethereal realm. When I hear people critiquing his technical skills, I think they must not understand what mastery is, nor can they understand the complex intricacy of his technique.
I have wondered since I started learning to play how he gets away with so much speeding up and slowing down of tempo and yet holds it altogether making it more enjoyable and musical, expressive while doing that. Somehow I feel it has something to do with his understanding how we listen, how we connect to music. He plays it with agility and I always enjoy listening to his interpretations.
Segovia moves me more than other players. There are players with better technique, players who are more 'historically correct'... I don't care. Segovia's playing touches my heart. His sound is so warm and passionate. I love the way he plays Bach.
THOSE PEOPLE who left thumbs down will take birth "deaf" in the next life. they will not have the privilege of hearing such celestial sounds. they have no culture or sophistication. Andres Segovia was a GrandMaster classical guitar artist and the world misses his personal association dearly. Thank you Gary for your comments below.
Sono chitarrista da una vita ed ascoltare Segovia è sempre un piacere. Ho avuto la fortuna di ascoltarlo dal vivo insieme al grande violinista Uto Ughi, tantissimi anni fa ed è stato un momento indimenticabile. R.I.P. Andres..............................
Can we also agree that Mr. Segovia is a talented musician and has brought much joy and soothing to an otherwise stressful world? Thanks again for the dialogue. Please enjoy your day.
I got to see Segovia on television as a child and young man. 50s and 60s. There are talented people in the prime of their life now, but what you get from a master like Segovia is music that comes down from the top of the mountain.
This is timeless.! Beautiful. Like a desert sunset. Or a morning dawn in the northern Atlantic. With the tide dramatically breaking against jagged rocks. That kinda beauty in this music!
I could put a lot of highbrow commentary to exude my respect and love for Segovia, but I'm sorry-only 2 words are needed. KICK ASS! This guy is at a level of incredible that transcends time; every aspect of his play, no matter his age, deserved to be admired for as long as humans exist. It's that simple.
If I could play the guitar in such a way... I would need nothing else more in this world! This is bringing the heaven right down to us. What a blessed artist he is! (and what a blessed composer!)
Señor Andres Segovia proved to the world that the classic Spanish guitar is a concert instrument. Among his "students" include Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin. Segovia's contribution to the world of guitar music cannot be matched by anybody. He is simply the master of classic guitar.
+eri sare You are a wise and well informed writer on classical guitar. Segovia contributed so much more than technical proficiency. He introduced the guitar to the world as a solo instrument w/concert capabilities performing the great orchestra pieces of the Baroque and Classical periods. Who could have done more?
Este fue uno de los primeros CD que compré, recién salí de la universidad, es uno de mis tesoros. De hecho fue mi motivación para comprar una guitarra y aprender a tocarla, es algo que quiero hacer antes de ser demasiado viejo :) llega un momento en que se cansa uno de ser sólo un espectador.
I was blessed back in 1976 to attend his concert in Los Angeles at the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion. The Master gave an amazing performance you could hear a pin drop as each note resonated through the hall. I happened to bring a young ballerina as my date for that night, she had the appreciate for the arts required to fully enjoy him. Thank you for the music you created and shared with us, I am better for it.
Mr. Andrés Segovia is one of the most influential classical musicians in my life. I started studying “music” ,“not classical guitar” from him around 1990 as I was just a reckless young punk banging out every note & chord as if they were all the same. This is the man that taught me to “care” about what I was doing or trying to do. I guess the only way I know to explain what I mean is the way that he explained it to me so long ago. . Imagine how a tear is born from a beautiful girls eye and its life or journey down her face. It doesn’t just pop-out, roll and fall. It can sometimes well-up really fast then slowly roll down her cheek until it reaches her cheek-bone then it can pause or stop then speed up again as it rolls down to the bottom of her jaw bone and as all of the water from the tear finally collects into a single heavy drop then stop again, until it finally drips from her face completing its existence.
LOVE Segovia !!! What an inspiration !!! Great tone, great expression, How blessed we all are to be able to still listen to him and watch him on youtube ... THANK YOU !!!!!!!
Many great guitarists over the years, but Segovia's tone in inimitable. Even the sound of his fingers changing chords is unique to him. He is like a master sculptor.
My introduction to Andres Segovia was through my Da, he commented on some of my guitar playing when I was younger, that it reminded him of Andres, at the time I sort of dismissed it, being a teenager with my mind on a thousand things at once, in the time leading up to my Da's death, along with the time proceeding it to now, I've grown to have a nostalgic, emotional experience when ever I listen to Segovia, weather tracks I know / tracks I don't, incredible musicianship, incredible stuff, love you Da.
One thing I always love about Segovia, is the expression (or lack of) on his face compared with contemporary guitarists. I interpret this as going deeper past human emotion and straight to the spiritual (in Segovia's case). It is also more palatable to watch, I greatly dislike this modern phenomenon of writhing around in fake emotional agony. Another tick in Segovia's box as far as I'm concerned. Go Maestro!
A Solitary Candle because when you’re at a rock concert in an arena, you want to see an expressionless, unmoving person sitting in a chair. Conductors should never show passion or expression either. Posers.
He was always revered while i was studying in the conservatory, he was and always will be the most influential and revolutionary classical guitarist in my eyes.
The sense of feel and emotion he conveyed in his playing was second to none. It's so distinct and instantly recognizable. All the more reason he earned the title of maestro. Prior to him, the guitar was laughed at and relegated to a parlor instrument, but he brought it to the forefront and gave it a voice and a relevance it never had before. If it wasn't for him, who knows where the guitar would have evolved today. Rest in peace maestro, and thanks for putting the guitar on the map for all of us to enjoy.
+6672rock So true Mr Rock I believe that Segovia was one of the most important musicians of the twentieth century. His efforts took the guitar from a folk instrument to the greatest concert halls of the world.
this music was written almost 300 year ago!!!!!...did we have recording studios at that time? what a performance... Is our civilization and culture, life...moving forward or backward....
+2HardBackRub Not really.... classical music is just an old (conventional) language of arts. it does not mean that musician today is not doing good. Simply because everything is changing.
this is really serious. Outstanding performance. Such a complex arrangement not only needs cunning skill but also a brilliant musical memory as well. Actually most of JS Bach pieces are very difficult to memorize
Segovia had such a warmth of tone and it was those fingers. Even if I listen to an artist that might be technically better, that tone and personality of Segovia’s playing is unmistakable and brilliant.
Thank you for posting this... This man is one of my heroes. I had the privilege of seeing him in concert once, and I count that event as one of the defining moments of my life. He is, in my twisted faith, the reincarnation of Francisco Sor, who made the guitar a 'serious' instrument and saved it from extinction hundreds of years ago.
In all his life, Bach was subordinate to a Church, a Court, or a city organization ( as in Leipzig ), always had a "boss".All the 3 composers had others sources of making money, with concerts, teaching private students, Bach too - so, he had an independent music life at the same time. But tha fact of Bach had been and 'employee" all his life doesn´t undervalue him at all, this was the pattern of Renassencec and Baroque era. Mozart and Beethoven started to change this model.
I first discovered Segovia as a teenager. I was stunned by his technical ability, but even more amazed at the warmth and humanity that came thru in every note. Thnx for posting !
A lifetime of study. Devoted to his craft .Economy of movement. Thumb work amazing. The master of his tone. A master of the guitar. Just wonderful to listen to. Bravo!
Segovia can transport you into the past and forward into eternity with his virtuosity. He had to transcribe the music for guitar and he had to compete with the world's most prestigious violinists and keyboardists on the guitar, which was considered a folk instrument in his era. He alone made the guitar respected in classical music.
He is the instrument himself like we can notice the from the highest leveled musicmans. No hesitation, no broken notes what so ever!!!! Great memory ability! Every notes seems to be flowing like river and clear like chrystal. That's is how much he play naturally. Although I can't play like him, but my ears & heart enjoy his music. Thank him for great performances.
Incidentally, late Carlo Montoya, one of flamenco grand master, did not amplify the sound and stuck to the guitar's original sound. Now, that demanded dead silence. I heard him at the old Roy Thomson hall in Toronto, almost an age back. A Genius.
When you consider at what age Segovia was performing this piece, it makes one stop and think. He was still an incredible guitar player even at such an age in his life. Thank you for putting this on YT. I always appreciate good music and try not to be distracted by often superfluous comments.
Chris Shelton Music you should listen to Gary Ryan!! He is an amazing musician and fastastic guitar player!! Also....a very good composer. You can find several recordings,here in You Tube. You will be very impressed. I promise you!!! Try.
Mozart also worked composing Church music until he went to Viena, when was 26 years old. Since he started to composing very early, he was linked to religion music several years , in Salzburg. But composed to aristocratichal environment too in that time. When he movedto Vienna, where lived for more 9 years, became an "independent" composer, working for himself, for comissions. Beethoven followed this way, and became an independent composer, earlier. Bach was an employee all life.
Here is my two cents. Segovia in relation to a modern day player is like the difference between the old Kodachrome prints and modern hi-definition pictures. Those old Kodachrome pictures had those warm beautiful colors and so many of the prints were like works of art even when the subject matter was mundane. Those pictures are striking even today to look at. Modern hi-def gives so much detail that anyone who might say that it's a much more accurate and clear medium could easily be proven correct. And yet, I always prefer the Kodachrome pictures. I think the reason is that I don't see in hi-definition. The blue I see in the sky is the one that the Kodachromes capture. I also don't see crystal clear lines in objects or in nature ( and yes I have perfect vision ). There is more blending of things in real life. So, I personally don't want to hear every note in crystal clear clarity, executed in perfect time. Segovia gives me the impression of the music so that the individual notes fall away leaving only the beauty of the music itself. I think that is his magic and that is why he continues to be respected even by those same modern players for his talent.
That's the nature of man...progression...football players today are larger faster smarter than those of 50 years ago...doesn't take away from the greatness of those players from the past...you have to take them within the context of their times...and Segovia was the greatest of his time...
+Mrfujimata2 Totaly agree as to Kodachrome pictures, and the rest of your words... The same applies to old vinyl records compared to modern high tech digital sounds. The old ones exceed in feeling and warmth.
+Mrfujimata2 I really love this poetical sentence: « The blue I see in the sky is the one that the Kodachromes capture. » It tells a lot about art. Though I'm an old fogy, and I have listed to thousands of vinyl records, taken thousands of analog photos, I don't prefer analog images or recordings. Digital imaging and recording are closer to the pureness and accuracy and I was looking for when I was young. But they need more post-processing than old techniques. As for a progress in music performance, I would first deny it, because I was taught there is no progress in art, and I think the educational level and the ability to impart knowledge has dramatically dropped in the last 100 years. But I must confess that Baroque music - maybe Classical music too - is much better interpreted now than 50 years ago, there are lots of talented young performers, marvelous countertenors with better voices than the Dellers, and a better knowledge of music. This puzzles me.
Segovia's sound is always mellow and has good sustenance, whereas other guitarist mostly produce sharp, short sound. Could be the way he cuts his finger nails, or use more finger than nails.
+Wing Low i think its not only the right hand you have to consider. the left one has the same importance - imagine the difference by just putting the fingers a bit off the fret
I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Segovia live in the '60s. My next favorite guitarists are the Romeros. I do not play the guitar, but I love to listen to fine musicians.
Nessa gravação o Segóvia corrige o seu erro crasso em sua primeira gravação Ele tocou BACH numa velocidade impossível para a época barroca. As cordas em geral, incluindo as do alaúde - que era o violão ou guitarra da época - eram feitas de tripas de carneiro ou bode e não davam condição do executante tocar com tamanha destresa como Segóvia o faz na gravação do seu primeiro disco de composições de BACH. Agora, mais comedido, ele se aproxima de como era e foi realmente a época barroca. Para quem não sabe, nos dias de hoje, a mínima - naquela época - valia como semínima; a colcheia como semínima e a semiclcheia era como a colcheia; a fusa como a semicolcheia e assim por diante. Não havia recursos nos instrumentos para o compositor expressar o que sentia na alma. Porém, hoje, como eles eram humanos como nós, podemos expressar o que verdadeiramente eles sentiam mas não podiam expressar. Que toquemos suas obras como eles gostariam de ter visto serem executadas porque só as podiam ouvir com o seu ouvido interior devido a pobreza de recursos dos instrumentos daquela época. Quando tocarmos o barroco, a renascença, não esqueçamos de fazer esse pequeno adendo que só enriquecerá os ouvintes como àqueles que buscam conhecimento em nossas Universidades nos dias de hoje. Valmir.
He's the man that presented the modern world to classical guitar. It's not the guitar, it's the man !!!! At his peak he had the most expressive sound ever heard.
i mean i am addicted to dubstep but this is just truly unbelievable! and i also play guitar so in december i will make a guitar video and show you what i really am!
dubstep? dubstep is currently the least original form of music; it's like minimalism that wishes it was not. every dubstep piece I have heard sounds nearly identical, which is of course due to the fact that there are only like 5 different sounds in the whole of the dubstep library, and secondly due to the ability of the average, nonmusical person to be able to compose because of so many music programs such as Reason. To be honest it is disgusting.
+MyTube4Utoo you just siad what i wanted to say.if people were not idiots these kind of music must have been liked more than 1,000,000,000 .they rather listen to lady gaga or justin bieber.
I heard Segovia twice towards the end of his life in the 1980s. He was already in his 90s. He played in the large Symphony Hall, Boston (which has excellent acoustics). The audience was rock still for the two hours he played. Not an empty seat in the house--2600 people in attendance. You could hear every note, nothing was amplified--completely acoustical. These two concerts were perhaps the most memorable of any I have ever attended in my 73 years. His musicianship and technique and soul are unmatched even today. A gift to humanity with such amazing artistry.
True, this technique is not available to anyone. It has a thousand nuances and expressions. His phrases are impressively expressive. The composers who dedicated works for guitar to him were impressed by his way of interpreting them and he improved the scores. There is a lot of musical ignorance and lack of knowledge about the guitar in people today. Many people only pay attention to the speed of the scales and the strength of the playing.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
@@MusicM49 I like DeepL translator.
No one plays better than him!!!
These days a bunch of idiots in front would be hooting and hollering so everyone would know how cultured they were.
Just watch SRV unplugged to see what I mean.
SRV was another expressive player from a different era. Still underrated.
Could be flashy when he wanted to, as well.
@@Fly4aWhiteGuy I don't think the kind of audiences this guy pulled were of the type to be hooting and hollering.its a classical music recital not a rock gig
mr. Segovia proved that the western-style 6-stringed guitar was worthy of respect as a serious classical instrument
Uh 7 years to late but I'm pretty sure the first six string classical accoustic guitar was actually made in Spain.
@@stevenglendale9053 what are you trying to say with that? Spain seems pretty western to me
If it wasn’t a serious classical instrument it wouldn’t be called classical guitar in the first place lmao
@@sempertern guitar didn't born with "classical" in its name, It was because of Tárrega, Llobett, Segovia and many others that It was added.
Here here, some people have no f***g idea
the connection between segovia and his guitar is perhaps one of the most esoteric qualities you'll find in this world.
I had the privilege of seeing him play when I was 16 he was amazing. A chair, a foot stool, a guitar, and him. No light show, wah wah pedal, auto-tune, nothing. Most amazing performance I have ever seen. I have worked in and around music 40 years and nothing compares to watching a master perform. He would have been in his 60's then but played with the energy of a 20 year old. No brakes 3 hours of jamming. I wish I could see a concert video of that performance.
you know pretty much nothing about classical guitar , it's technique or style .to even make the comparison with electric guitars wah wah pedals auto tune etc etc is a ludicrous comparison. as if more modern classical guitarists used all these effects, I mean it's an absurd comment.
If you go to see any modern classical guitarist you get exactly what you described from Segovia. a chair and a guitar . here
th-cam.com/video/OabBda-0Q_A/w-d-xo.html
now you can tell me how 'souless' this is compared to his excellency the maestro, and all the other driveling bollocks people are spewing out here as they grovel
@UCp5tsqHPFHD3sOeYQ3VKLyg He wasn't comparing modern classical guitarists to Segovia. He was comparing regular rock/pop guitarists to Segovia. You just went off on some weird rampage and only made yourself look illiterate. You quoted the word soulless even though OP never used that word.
Dexterity with hard working hand net pull fingers. He took advantage of his free time. Incredible.
OK, I see so much hate towards Segovia on youtube, and frankly, it's pathetic! Firstly, MEDIOCRE? REALLY? Bare in mind that the ONLY recordings we have of him are when he was already an old man! He was born in 1893 for Christ's sake, so even recordings from the mid to late 1930s (which are usually of very poor sound quality, because of the restrictions of recording equipment) would see the Maestro in his mid 40s! There is also, on youtube, a video recording of Segovia in a Paris apartment, with the Eiffel tower clearly visible outside his window, and his playing (including the Op. 9 Mozart Variations by Sor) is SPECTACULAR!
Almost everything else we have though is from the 1950s and 1960s onwards (Segovia in his 60s and 70s) I believe that THIS recording may be from the 1970s Los Olivos programme; Segovia then in his 80s!!! Tell me, what EIGHTY YEAR OLD could play the Gavotte en Rondeau like THAT!?
Now, modern guitarists....there are a LOT (myself included) and some are really, really amazing...technically. But I have noticed that the one thing that most modern guitarists are REALLY poor at is vibrato. It seems like it is completely absent in some, and very weak in the rest. Why? Because of a fixation on purely reproducing note values without too much "personality" in the playing. The guitar, in my humble opinion, thrives on being able to show colour and personality, yet the "modern school" totally teaches against this. As a result the guitar becomes nothing but a "harpsichord on your lap", without tonal variety, or vibrato. Personally I find that sort of playing very, VERY dull!
One final thing to consider, Segovia taught HIMSELF to play. He had a small amount of flamenco tuition as a boy, but learned (in his own words) very little. He basically got the works of Sor, Giuliani, Carcassi and Aguado and taught HIMSELF to play! He also modernised the technique, to include fingernails, something not commonly done, previously....and inspired many composers to write for the guitar. The instrument, and EVERYONE who plays it owes him an enormous debt of gratitude; not the constant disrespect that is so en vogue these days.
+Gary Ormond I don't think you need to defend Segovia, the work stands on its own. Most people that criticise are likely using midi backing and multitracking to cover holes in their abilities. Also, Segovia is from a different time, access to information and exposure to ideas concepts was much more difficult - he didn't have the internet as a copy cat learning tool - he had to develop technique in relative isolation and within his circle - people these days hear of a technique, get a tutorial with close up fingers and an experts explanation breakdown of how and why - different worlds of thought.
Soul is something that is hard fought for over time, just listening to this piece tells you he isn't mechanically perfecting a piece, he is sharing his experience of this music with us - its a different concept than most people comprehend.
Thanks to both of you for your comments. I learned a lot.
A lot of mechanical robot guitarist now days play with the guitar as an extension of their hands.. Segovia played guitar as an extension of his soul.
You sir are spot on. He is surely a most amazing musician. And you are exactly right on your modern guitar player theory. Everyone I know tunes down a step or two. Ridiculous! I tune standard 440 and my drop a half step sometimes but that's it. The strings loose the "pop" or character they have when down tuned so much. And vibrato is extremely missing in guitar playing these days!
Cheers!!
Thank you for putting things into perspective. Detractors are a nasty bunch anyway. Maestro Segovia was indeed a Grand Master, and in his time he must have been something of a great rarity, just like Pablo Casals. There's depth and life in his playing, and here he brings plenty of life to the Old Kapellmeister. Thank you for posting this gem.
One of many lessons I've learned from Segovia is that he never lets his playing get ahead of the music. He analyzes the manuscript and hears the phrases and nuances and embellishments always as he executes each note. His technique serves the music always.
My father took me to see Segovia when I was seventeen years old. Up until then I thought I was a pretty good guitarist. All the thumbs down are from guitarists who feel completely incompetent.
to whoever decided to video his hands close-up, great job. That is literally exactly what I want to see.
It is the difference between someone who is really good at somethng and someone who is an actual master. He couldn't just play someone else's work, he painstakingly worked to understand and translate it. We seem to have nearly lost people like him in our world today. He comes off to me as artist like Rembrant who may have lost his exacting detail as he aged but developed a spectrum of depth in his art that completely overtook everthing else around him. He's confident, but only from his depth of the beauty of the music which he plays and his ability to understand it.. This guy doesn't just play, he exudes the music he plays. You dont have to be a muscian or watch a video to feel the emotion and depth behind his playing.
well said sir,well said
+Peter-Ian Staker What an accurate, precise appreciation! He really transcends the Author, or rather integrates with him in some spiritual platform.
Like how a master artist can just scribble and it still somehow looks curious, but a student (while technically proficient) would just make a unappealing mess.
Just as people who don't understand Glenn Gould
In 1973 I took classical lessons The conservatory , Avenue Rd, Toronto. Mr. Segovia was my idle and the father of Classical guitar in my life. He deserves respect of the art.
Saw him at the Philadelphia Academy of Muaic in 1981, mesmerizing!
those massive sausage fingers, yet they dance up and down the neck like a ballerina.
the man, the maestro, Segovia! remarkably incomparible!
🤣
I studied classical guitar and have long slender fingers.
From a physics point of view the longer your fingers the harder it is to make fast precise movements. The length of the lever is longer so a smaller muscle movement results in a larger movement of the finger tips on a longer finger compared to a shorter finger.
So having short fingers is in some ways a gift when it comes to playing classical guitar.
Slartibartfast Look at Angus Young of AC⚡️DC. Small hands but very nimble & great left-hand vibrato.
@@paulr.4968 Angus! Angus! Dadadadadadada
Yes when I saw his fingers, I thought there is still hope for me with my fingers
Segovia was a master of classical guitar. He is the reason for classical guitar. He is the one who transcribed Bach for guitar. He has no match as he plays at the most elevated level of creativity which transcends into the ethereal realm. When I hear people critiquing his technical skills, I think they must not understand what mastery is, nor can they understand the complex intricacy of his technique.
It is lovely that such videos as these exist. He may have departed this world yet his memory and music will live on.
I saw Segovia play in Columbus Ohio in 1974. I was able to get his autograph. I also saw Bream in Cincinnati a few year later.
I saw him at the QE Theatre in Vancouver in 1974. He was amazing and in his 80's. I'll never forget.
It just sounds so ancient. We have learned to avoid dissonance but here it's used so tastefully
The greatest guitarist that ever lived, and maybe the best that ever WILL live.
did he compose anything
@@pwnayr I think he composed a lot of his own pieces but didn’t care for it much. He was known as a composer but I don’t think it was his first love.
One of the masters .
Andres Segovia is one of the greatest musicians playing guitar ever!!!
Remove "one of" from that statement and you get my opinion. It's just an opinion!!!!
do you play guitar?
Then you should know that almost every classical guitar teacher is strict
Hahahahah that's another thing. My classical guitar teacher met him and flew a couple of times with him. He was very kind to her.
I have wondered since I started learning to play how he gets away with so much speeding up and slowing down of tempo and yet holds it altogether making it more enjoyable and musical, expressive while doing that. Somehow I feel it has something to do with his understanding how we listen, how we connect to music. He plays it with agility and I always enjoy listening to his interpretations.
Down the Rambla took a right at the end of the church of "For Gold, Gold, and Glory". Met some great people in Barcelona. Tough boat ride.
Bumpy and salt pork got old.
This is wonderful music ! Thank you Andre's Segovia yours impressed hands !!!
Beautiful ....
I was lucky enough to see and hear him in concert many years ago. He was a living monument.
Segovia moves me more than other players. There are players with better technique, players who are more 'historically correct'... I don't care. Segovia's playing touches my heart. His sound is so warm and passionate. I love the way he plays Bach.
THOSE PEOPLE who left thumbs down will take birth "deaf" in the next life. they will not have the privilege of hearing such celestial sounds. they have no culture or sophistication. Andres Segovia was a GrandMaster classical guitar artist and the world misses his personal association dearly. Thank you Gary for your comments below.
Insuperabile, la vetta più alta della chitarra classica!
Grand master doing what he does best.
Sono chitarrista da una vita ed ascoltare Segovia è sempre un piacere. Ho avuto la fortuna di ascoltarlo dal vivo insieme al grande violinista Uto Ughi, tantissimi anni fa ed è stato un momento indimenticabile. R.I.P. Andres..............................
He made the guitar sing like no other and did so much for the classical guitar. Legend!
His fingers blow my mind. Built like a net fisherman's fingers with touch.
May the Lord and Sr Maria for Mr Segovia will see us in Heaven. Archangels, Angels, Joannis-Baptista, Martyrs and Saints.
Got room for any other creator fans? Who made the rules?
"Net puller". Ingrained. World class musician too. Historic.
Can we also agree that Mr. Segovia is a talented musician and has brought much joy and soothing to an otherwise stressful world? Thanks again for the dialogue. Please enjoy your day.
I got to see Segovia on television as a child and young man. 50s and 60s. There are talented people in the prime of their life now, but what you get from a master like Segovia is music that comes down from the top of the mountain.
This is timeless.! Beautiful. Like a desert sunset. Or a morning dawn in the northern Atlantic. With the tide dramatically breaking against jagged rocks. That kinda beauty in this music!
I could put a lot of highbrow commentary to exude my respect and love for Segovia, but I'm sorry-only 2 words are needed. KICK ASS! This guy is at a level of incredible that transcends time; every aspect of his play, no matter his age, deserved to be admired for as long as humans exist. It's that simple.
If I could play the guitar in such a way... I would need nothing else more in this world!
This is bringing the heaven right down to us. What a blessed artist he is! (and what a blessed composer!)
I would not mess with that guy. Old man strength with guile. Nothing but a heartache.
Señor Andres Segovia proved to the world that the classic Spanish guitar is a concert instrument. Among his "students" include Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin. Segovia's contribution to the world of guitar music cannot be matched by anybody. He is simply the master of classic guitar.
Paco de Lucia wasnt his student.
+eri sare You are a wise and well informed writer on classical guitar. Segovia contributed so much more than technical proficiency. He introduced the guitar to the world as a solo instrument w/concert capabilities performing the great orchestra pieces of the Baroque and Classical periods. Who could have done more?
Nobody of the guitarist you mention actually was studying with him :v
Edgar Siscar uhm actually francisco tarrega did this bruh thanks for your time
"students" it ain't clear?
Este fue uno de los primeros CD que compré, recién salí de la universidad, es uno de mis tesoros. De hecho fue mi motivación para comprar una guitarra y aprender a tocarla, es algo que quiero hacer antes de ser demasiado viejo :) llega un momento en que se cansa uno de ser sólo un espectador.
I was blessed back in 1976 to attend his concert in Los Angeles at the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion. The Master gave an amazing performance you could hear a pin drop as each note resonated through the hall. I happened to bring a young ballerina as my date for that night, she had the appreciate for the arts required to fully enjoy him. Thank you for the music you created and shared with us, I am better for it.
Mr. Andrés Segovia is one of the most influential classical musicians in my life. I started studying “music” ,“not classical guitar” from him around 1990 as I was just a reckless young punk banging out every note & chord as if they were all the same. This is the man that taught me to “care” about what I was doing or trying to do.
I guess the only way I know to explain what I mean is the way that he explained it to me so long ago.
.
Imagine how a tear is born from a beautiful girls eye and its life or journey down her face. It doesn’t just pop-out, roll and fall.
It can sometimes well-up really fast then slowly roll down her cheek until it reaches her cheek-bone then it can pause or stop then speed up again as it rolls down to the bottom of her jaw bone and as all of the water from the tear finally collects into a single heavy drop then stop again, until it finally drips from her face completing its existence.
Sweet story. But I'd love to know how he gave you lessons from beyond the grave. He died in 1987, 3 years before you met him.
LOVE Segovia !!! What an inspiration !!! Great tone, great expression, How blessed we all are to be able to still listen to him and watch him on youtube ... THANK YOU !!!!!!!
Many great guitarists over the years, but Segovia's tone in inimitable. Even the sound of his fingers changing chords is unique to him. He is like a master sculptor.
My introduction to Andres Segovia was through my Da, he commented on some of my guitar playing when I was younger, that it reminded him of Andres, at the time I sort of dismissed it, being a teenager with my mind on a thousand things at once, in the time leading up to my Da's death, along with the time proceeding it to now, I've grown to have a nostalgic, emotional experience when ever I listen to Segovia, weather tracks I know / tracks I don't, incredible musicianship, incredible stuff, love you Da.
One thing I always love about Segovia, is the expression (or lack of) on his face compared with contemporary guitarists. I interpret this as going deeper past human emotion and straight to the spiritual (in Segovia's case). It is also more palatable to watch, I greatly dislike this modern phenomenon of writhing around in fake emotional agony. Another tick in Segovia's box as far as I'm concerned. Go Maestro!
Shame that doesn't apply to asians according to hypocrites
A Solitary Candle because when you’re at a rock concert in an arena, you want to see an expressionless, unmoving person sitting in a chair. Conductors should never show passion or expression either. Posers.
Chris Gattman The term is French, “Poseur”, a.k.a. “Fops”
f**king hate those poseurs .
"Writhing around in fake emotional agony" well said
If one wants to learn to play good Classical guitar, Segovia is the one to learn from.. he plays it with feeling.
SEGOVIA TOCABA CON EL ALMA !!
Web pulling fingers. Fisherman. Grumpy with old man strength. Great guitar artist. Sumbich.
Easily the greatest guitarist to ever touch the instrument. Definitely my favorite any way.
He was always revered while i was studying in the conservatory, he was and always will be the most influential and revolutionary classical guitarist in my eyes.
The sense of feel and emotion he conveyed in his playing was second to none. It's so distinct and instantly recognizable. All the more reason he earned the title of maestro. Prior to him, the guitar was laughed at and relegated to a parlor instrument, but he brought it to the forefront and gave it a voice and a relevance it never had before. If it wasn't for him, who knows where the guitar would have evolved today. Rest in peace maestro, and thanks for putting the guitar on the map for all of us to enjoy.
+6672rock So true Mr Rock I believe that Segovia was one of the most important musicians of the twentieth century. His efforts took the guitar from a folk instrument to the greatest concert halls of the world.
this music was written almost 300 year ago!!!!!...did we have recording studios at that time? what a performance... Is our civilization and culture, life...moving forward or backward....
+Mike Marco What do you mean by "did we have recording studios"?
+Mike Marco wtf? are you talking about????
+Mike Marco Was listening to Goldberg Variations today, thinking the same thing... somehow we're going back down the mountain xD
+2HardBackRub Not really.... classical music is just an old (conventional) language of arts. it does not mean that musician today is not doing good. Simply because everything is changing.
w George right on
this is really serious.
Outstanding performance.
Such a complex arrangement not only needs cunning skill but also a brilliant musical memory as well. Actually most of JS Bach pieces are very difficult to memorize
I've played all my life and what Bach I play is beautiful and very demanding on the fretting hand
Segovia had such a warmth of tone and it was those fingers. Even if I listen to an artist that might be technically better, that tone and personality of Segovia’s playing is unmistakable and brilliant.
sir Segovia you're a great master, we love you
Thank you for posting this... This man is one of my heroes. I had the privilege of seeing him in concert once, and I count that event as one of the defining moments of my life. He is, in my twisted faith, the reincarnation of Francisco Sor, who made the guitar a 'serious' instrument and saved it from extinction hundreds of years ago.
In all his life, Bach was subordinate to a Church, a Court, or a city organization ( as in Leipzig ), always had a "boss".All the 3 composers had others sources of making money, with concerts, teaching private students, Bach too - so, he had an independent music life at the same time. But tha fact of Bach had been and 'employee" all his life doesn´t undervalue him at all, this was the pattern of Renassencec and Baroque era. Mozart and Beethoven started to change this model.
You can feel the genuine tension and emotion in the song.
Possibly the most influential guitarist of all time
But can he play Eruption?
I first discovered Segovia as a teenager. I was stunned by his technical ability, but even more amazed at the warmth and humanity that came thru in every note. Thnx for posting !
The man was a master.
A lifetime of study. Devoted to his craft .Economy of movement. Thumb work amazing. The master of his tone. A master of the guitar. Just wonderful to listen to. Bravo!
guitar playing has no age,awesome!
Segovia can transport you into the past and forward into eternity with his virtuosity.
He had to transcribe the music for guitar and he had to compete with the world's most prestigious violinists and keyboardists on the guitar, which was considered a folk instrument in his era. He alone made the guitar respected in classical music.
He makes guitar playing look like just plain walking. The man’s got some serious skill.
He is the instrument himself like we can notice the from the highest leveled musicmans.
No hesitation, no broken notes what so ever!!!!
Great memory ability!
Every notes seems to be flowing like river and clear like chrystal.
That's is how much he play naturally.
Although I can't play like him, but my ears & heart enjoy his music.
Thank him for great performances.
Incidentally, late Carlo Montoya, one of flamenco grand master, did not amplify the sound and stuck to the guitar's original sound. Now, that demanded dead silence. I heard him at the old Roy Thomson hall in Toronto, almost an age back. A Genius.
Mr. Segovia. Much respect and fantastic vibes.
Bravo Maestro!!
When you consider at what age Segovia was performing this piece, it makes one stop and think. He was still an incredible guitar player even at such an age in his life. Thank you for putting this on YT. I always appreciate good music and try not to be distracted by often superfluous comments.
I am always looking for current classical guitarists, but I always come back to Segovia. His interpretations always seemed to have something extra.
Chris Shelton Music you should listen to Gary Ryan!! He is an amazing musician and fastastic guitar player!! Also....a very good composer. You can find several recordings,here in You Tube. You will be very impressed. I promise you!!! Try.
Bacana este vídeo! Raro ver e ouvir o mito Segovia ao mesmo tempo. Congratulations, thanks!
Mozart also worked composing Church music until he went to Viena, when was 26 years old. Since he started to composing very early, he was linked to religion music several years , in Salzburg. But composed to aristocratichal environment too in that time. When he movedto Vienna, where lived for more 9 years, became an "independent" composer, working for himself, for comissions. Beethoven followed this way, and became an independent composer, earlier. Bach was an employee all life.
Without Segovia we would still not know that this level of guitar mastery was even possible. Unbelievable until you see it/listen to it.
Witness...
mastery!
Beautiful.
Love the soft sounds from a Spanish guitar--soothing.
fantastic
I CAN NEVER TIRED OF LISTENING TO HIM HE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST GUITAREST THAT EVER LIVED!!!!
Here is my two cents. Segovia in relation to a modern day player is like the difference between the old Kodachrome prints and modern hi-definition pictures. Those old Kodachrome pictures had those warm beautiful colors and so many of the prints were like works of art even when the subject matter was mundane. Those pictures are striking even today to look at. Modern hi-def gives so much detail that anyone who might say that it's a much more accurate and clear medium could easily be proven correct. And yet, I always prefer the Kodachrome pictures. I think the reason is that I don't see in hi-definition. The blue I see in the sky is the one that the Kodachromes capture. I also don't see crystal clear lines in objects or in nature ( and yes I have perfect vision ). There is more blending of things in real life. So, I personally don't want to hear every note in crystal clear clarity, executed in perfect time. Segovia gives me the impression of the music so that the individual notes fall away leaving only the beauty of the music itself. I think that is his magic and that is why he continues to be respected even by those same modern players for his talent.
That's the nature of man...progression...football players today are larger faster smarter than those of 50 years ago...doesn't take away from the greatness of those players from the past...you have to take them within the context of their times...and Segovia was the greatest of his time...
3wbg Do you mean he is actually not better than the state-of-art guitarists?
+Mrfujimata2 Totaly agree as to Kodachrome pictures, and the rest of your words... The same applies to old vinyl records compared to modern high tech digital sounds. The old ones exceed in feeling and warmth.
+Mrfujimata2 Segovia and Julian Bream... everyone just tries to be them...
+Mrfujimata2 I really love this poetical sentence: « The blue I see in the sky is the one that the Kodachromes capture. » It tells a lot about art.
Though I'm an old fogy, and I have listed to thousands of vinyl records, taken thousands of analog photos, I don't prefer analog images or recordings. Digital imaging and recording are closer to the pureness and accuracy and I was looking for when I was young. But they need more post-processing than old techniques.
As for a progress in music performance, I would first deny it, because I was taught there is no progress in art, and I think the educational level and the ability to impart knowledge has dramatically dropped in the last 100 years.
But I must confess that Baroque music - maybe Classical music too - is much better interpreted now than 50 years ago, there are lots of talented young performers, marvelous countertenors with better voices than the Dellers, and a better knowledge of music. This puzzles me.
Much much respect . Beautiful 😊 No ams effects etc just pure touch and tone from a true master!!
Segovia's sound is always mellow and has good sustenance, whereas other guitarist mostly produce sharp, short sound. Could be the way he cuts his finger nails, or use more finger than nails.
+Wing Low i think its not only the right hand you have to consider. the left one has the same importance - imagine the difference by just putting the fingers a bit off the fret
I believe his sound also comes from his fat fingers, and I only mean that in a good way.
It's also the Segovia scales. Practicing that way creates a better sound. It is a lot from the left hand.
+tjovadevalivat absolutely agreed
I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Segovia live in the '60s. My next favorite guitarists are the Romeros. I do not play the guitar, but I love to listen to fine musicians.
Masterpiece
i luv the feeling u get when playing. when u get so wrapped up in playing guitar tht everything else just melts away. its all over his face.
best part 0:00 - 5:37 :)
Happy Birthday Señor
Andrés Segovia Torres 🙏😇
#RestInLove🕯️
Beautiful. Flawless. Sublime. It doesn't get any better.
Nessa gravação o Segóvia corrige o seu erro crasso em sua primeira gravação Ele tocou BACH numa velocidade impossível para a época barroca. As cordas em geral, incluindo as do alaúde - que era o violão ou guitarra da época - eram feitas de tripas de carneiro ou bode e não davam condição do executante tocar com tamanha destresa como Segóvia o faz na gravação do seu primeiro disco de composições de BACH. Agora, mais comedido, ele se aproxima de como era e foi realmente a época barroca. Para quem não sabe, nos dias de hoje, a mínima - naquela época - valia como semínima; a colcheia como semínima e a semiclcheia era como a colcheia; a fusa como a semicolcheia e assim por diante. Não havia recursos nos instrumentos para o compositor expressar o que sentia na alma. Porém, hoje, como eles eram humanos como nós, podemos expressar o que verdadeiramente eles sentiam mas não podiam expressar. Que toquemos suas obras como eles gostariam de ter visto serem executadas porque só as podiam ouvir com o seu ouvido interior devido a pobreza de recursos dos instrumentos daquela época. Quando tocarmos o barroco, a renascença, não esqueçamos de fazer esse pequeno adendo que só enriquecerá os ouvintes como àqueles que buscam conhecimento em nossas Universidades nos dias de hoje. Valmir.
Andres Segovia was a true master at the Guitar. I only wish I could have met him and taken lessons from him at some point in my life.
this is Segovia every rock star wishes they had half of his tallent
He's the man that presented the modern world to classical guitar.
It's not the guitar, it's the man !!!!
At his peak he had the most expressive sound ever heard.
i mean i am addicted to dubstep but this is just truly unbelievable! and i also play guitar so in december i will make a guitar video and show you what i really am!
Where is it?:D
lol i forgot u will soon see it
nice ;)
dubstep? dubstep is currently the least original form of music; it's like minimalism that wishes it was not.
every dubstep piece I have heard sounds nearly identical, which is of course due to the fact that there are only like 5 different sounds in the whole of the dubstep library, and secondly due to the ability of the average, nonmusical person to be able to compose because of so many music programs such as Reason.
To be honest it is disgusting.
E' stato, é e restera' il migliore chitarrista di tutti i tempi!
56 people gave this a thumbs down!! Haha, people are such idiots. Must have been searching for a Katy Perry video. Hahaha
+MyTube4Utoo someone undisliked
+MyTube4Utoo
you just siad what i wanted to say.if people were not idiots these kind of music must have been liked more than 1,000,000,000 .they rather listen to lady gaga or justin bieber.
vahram ardashir
bashing on other people doesn't help anyone. just let people like what they like for fucksakes. youtube needs to get this
+michael benzur Quit 'bashing' on me then boy. ;-)
MyTube4Utoo
haha but ts not you. its just the mindset of not pop's comments
Incredible playing! Segovia is great.
Segovia is great but Bach is the master.
Probably the greatest guitarist to ever exist (and Randy Rhoads of course).
What about Agustin Barrios?think again lol
Paco de Lucia? Angus Young?
Dominican Bikini Beauties jimmy page
Duran Gopee jimi hendrix
esos son guitarristas
churros osea populares ,aqui
solo hablamos de guitarristas clasicos no de
guitarristas de pacotilla exceptuando a paco
Fue un gran maestro y, aún con los años que tenía en esta grabación, lo seguía siendo. Gracias.
Fingers of hard work and touch like a diamond cutter. Too cool.
Fantastic to hear polyphonic music of this level on a guitar. Each voice comes out so clearly.
He is the ultimate guitar god ! Thank you for everything.
Grande mestre. O maior intérprete do violão no século 20.