Thanks God, for this amazing way of comunication where we can see and hear these wonderful performances. See John Williams performing great pieces like this. It is really a priviledge. I pray God give John a long life sharing his wonderful give.
You say that, but Paco gives Williams props for letting the music speak for itself. That is, in a big way, super respectful to the pieces and the fact that Paco addresses that should say something as well.
Beautyfull version. Williams have a feelling of sens and charm in his interpretations. This piece is particullary glorious.... inspire some many thinks: Moorish spain, ancient times, exhuberance and sorrow... I have listen this piece one hundred times, and I want more.....
John Williams is absolutely spot on when he says that this piece was inspired by the Mesquita (Great Mosque) in Cordoba, a seamless combination of Mosque and Cathedral (one of the world's largest by floor area). The composer sets the scene by way of a Christian chant (or hymn), then introduces Moorish elements: passages incorporating ancient harmonic modes particularly in the melodic bass voice. The piece is a real musical masterpiece: each morning, after four Chopin Etudes, I play through Cordoba (and its companions Granada, Sevilla and Cadiz) as warming-up exercises before getting down to the day's work at the organ. (As a passing note, I find this piece also supremely effective on the organ, using a second manual to project quieter passages and voices in echo mode. For any organist reading this - it's worth trying out!) Although these pieces were written originally for piano, they evoke the spirit of the guitar in a way that makes pianists more than grateful to share them with our guitarist colleagues, not least when they are rendered with such consummate perfection as John Williams brings to them.
glad i'm not the only one who thinks this! wiliams is a great guitarist, but personally, his interpretations never move me like Bream's, there's just so much more music and emotion in how he plays!
I love spanish guitar videos with romantic footage of Spain. Especially JB's Guitarra. If you've never seen it and you enjoy this too, get hold of that video trust me.
Agreed, Smallman guitars are spectacular for performance because they project so well. As far as tone, they leave much to be desired. I love Williams on Bach. Albeniz, he could breath a little more.
Love this piece of music, think it sounds beautiful on the guitar which is my instrument. However, bit tickled when he calls this "real guitar music" since it was composed for the piano (and sounds lovely on the piano too).
@generalludd i agree, he seems to play effortlessly and it comes through in the music, an extreme version of the feeling i get playing a truly excellent guitar, gliding over the stings effortlessly. for me he is the best guitarist alive
I agree, John seems nearly flawless almost like a robot .He also doesn't add extra flash like Julian Bream or Georg Gulyas( who both play Cordoba beautifully) * side note*I would like to hear John play Pavane Capricho from Albeniz, Does anyone know if he recorded this song? I cant seem to find it anywhere.
@ditman333 As I said I can't tell from the video if it's a Smallman because of the audio. But I've seen JW in concert a few times and each time he played on a Smallman so I'm just assuming it's the same here. Just because a guitar is "one of the most expensive guitars there are today" doesn't mean it's the best. Everyone has different preferences. Personally, I don't like Smallman guitars. Give me a Ramirez circa 1970 or a Simon Marty any day over a Smallman.
Music is subjective. Williams never "races" he's always completely relaxed and in control. Listen to Alicia de Larrocha play it on the piano, and you'll hear that Williams is much closer to the feel and textures of the original.
Maybe you should try to hear Joaquin Achucarro th-cam.com/video/KlMG3xLXaYY/w-d-xo.html who has made several very fine recordings of the Spanish piano repertoire - although to date I am unable to find Cordoba). Achucarro's tempi are marginally on the slow side, but allow one to listen right inside the music. José Iturbi, a generation previously (and a mentor of Achucarro) was also a fine executant of this corner of the piano repertoire (and - like Achucarro - of other composers too, for that matter)
I promised myself I would never comment again on anything John Williams did but I can't help myself.... Technically he has no equal. I think there is no other with the technical mastery John Williams has. However, musically, he destroys everything he plays. He stopped feeling music circa 1981. He even makes the opening Bm chords to Aranjuez sound wooden. A true virtuoso, yes. A musician? You may as well listen to a sequencer.
You play the harmonic by touching the pad of your right index finger exactly one octave above the note your left hand is stopping, while plucking the string with the middle or ring finger of your right hand.
Some moments of detachment maybe but nevertheless an absolutely incredible performance from surely the greatest classical guitarist ( Segovia is more of an artist))
@60moo Agreed. Williams is a very good guitarist and he's very accurate in terms of hitting all the notes. But I've always felt that his interpretations, especially on spanish pieces, were a bit too robotic, almost as if he's just going through the motions. Plus it doesn't help that he plays on a Smallman guitar. Those, in my opinion, are god awful guitars when it comes to tone. I can't tell from this video if he's playing on a Smallman or not. Audio is slightly distorted.
technically brilliant, musically as warm as a dead fish on ice. I would love to have his technique but how anyone can prefer his interpretations to Bream's is beyond me. It sounds as if the score has been programmed into a sequencer with a good guitar sample and someone just pressed the 'play' button. There is hardly any colour variation and he races through as if he has a bus to catch. Compare it to Bream's and here the difference.
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.922 | 10 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zmV5HRIxIBI/mqdefault.jpg)
15 years after first seeing this, and I still comeback to watch and study his hands. That's how remarkable this man's playing is...
Williams is a peerless guitarist. His performances are both technically flawless and musically inspirational.
Thanks God, for this amazing way of comunication where we can see and hear these wonderful performances. See John Williams performing great pieces like this. It is really a priviledge. I pray God give John a long life sharing his wonderful give.
Perfection! Absolutely Beautiful!
You say that, but Paco gives Williams props for letting the music speak for itself. That is, in a big way, super respectful to the pieces and the fact that Paco addresses that should say something as well.
such a nice piece... transports u to old spain emidiately.
Acho ele espetacular ❤
Beautyfull version. Williams have a feelling of sens and charm in his interpretations. This piece is particullary glorious.... inspire some many thinks: Moorish spain, ancient times, exhuberance and sorrow... I have listen this piece one hundred times, and I want more.....
w3hat a great song and well played
Enorme Maestro
i love this recording too much to hear john williams voice over this. as much as i love the documentary it from
Always loved this musical piece...Thanks from India
It is really amazing how well this piece works on the guitar. Williams plays this piece with great feelings and sense of style.
piano music like this transcribed to guitar is really pretty... the harmonies are very rich!
una obra maestra
John Williams is absolutely spot on when he says that this piece was inspired by the Mesquita (Great Mosque) in Cordoba, a seamless combination of Mosque and Cathedral (one of the world's largest by floor area).
The composer sets the scene by way of a Christian chant (or hymn), then introduces Moorish elements: passages incorporating ancient harmonic modes particularly in the melodic bass voice.
The piece is a real musical masterpiece: each morning, after four Chopin Etudes, I play through Cordoba (and its companions Granada, Sevilla and Cadiz) as warming-up exercises before getting down to the day's work at the organ. (As a passing note, I find this piece also supremely effective on the organ, using a second manual to project quieter passages and voices in echo mode. For any organist reading this - it's worth trying out!)
Although these pieces were written originally for piano, they evoke the spirit of the guitar in a way that makes pianists more than grateful to share them with our guitarist colleagues, not least when they are rendered with such consummate perfection as John Williams brings to them.
I listen to this daily.
Me encantó
From my point of view, as a folk/ragtime blues guitarist, this is just brilliant.
we're playing an arrangement of this for our sax ensemble, it's my favorite piece by far.
Preciosaaaaaaa *-*
I am most impressed by not a single squeek..... or any finger noise whatsoever!
I dont know you and I will never do... somehow I would prefer to live in a world without you...
Amazing... The Best.
genius at work
Oh! THAT John Williams!
very good!
El maestro es un gran interprete.
makes me proud to be part spanish WOOO!
My all time favorite guitar music
Very nice! Thank you. (TS)
glad i'm not the only one who thinks this! wiliams is a great guitarist, but personally, his interpretations never move me like Bream's, there's just so much more music and emotion in how he plays!
I love spanish guitar videos with romantic footage of Spain. Especially JB's Guitarra. If you've never seen it and you enjoy this too, get hold of that video trust me.
Brilliant I wish I could play like this!
Agreed, Smallman guitars are spectacular for performance because they project so well. As far as tone, they leave much to be desired. I love Williams on Bach. Albeniz, he could breath a little more.
What a beautiful song! Check out the reverb on the harmonics, so cool!
Love this piece of music, think it sounds beautiful on the guitar which is my instrument. However, bit tickled when he calls this "real guitar music" since it was composed for the piano (and sounds lovely on the piano too).
nice music here...he's pretty good!
Maestro y cuando viene a Chileeeeee
This is as good as it gets on the Spanish guitar in terms of both composition and player IMHO.
Meu herói !
@generalludd i agree, he seems to play effortlessly and it comes through in the music, an extreme version of the feeling i get playing a truly excellent guitar, gliding over the stings effortlessly. for me he is the best guitarist alive
Albeniz is a genius / John williams got it right and expressed him as genius
Man I freaking love 2:45 to 2:50
At this moment can't breath. Fantastic.
Bream's interpretation of Cordoba would also be peerless :)
I agree, John seems nearly flawless almost like a robot .He also doesn't add extra flash like Julian Bream or Georg Gulyas( who both play Cordoba beautifully)
* side note*I would like to hear John play Pavane Capricho from Albeniz, Does anyone know if he recorded this song? I cant seem to find it anywhere.
Por casualidad alguien la puede publicar con subtitulos en español, me gustría mucho saber lo que comenta El gran maestro...gracias
@verdi0381
Thank you friend. I could not have said it better.
nicely said buddy
Good !
John Williams is a wonderful player ,all he needs is to buy a good guitar and he is all set.
@ditman333 As I said I can't tell from the video if it's a Smallman because of the audio. But I've seen JW in concert a few times and each time he played on a Smallman so I'm just assuming it's the same here. Just because a guitar is "one of the most expensive guitars there are today" doesn't mean it's the best. Everyone has different preferences. Personally, I don't like Smallman guitars. Give me a Ramirez circa 1970 or a Simon Marty any day over a Smallman.
the best in the guitar:maestro williams
@Dragonforce55kid He plays on Greg Smallman guitars.
Music is subjective. Williams never "races" he's always completely relaxed and in control. Listen to Alicia de Larrocha play it on the piano, and you'll hear that Williams is much closer to the feel and textures of the original.
Maybe you should try to hear Joaquin Achucarro th-cam.com/video/KlMG3xLXaYY/w-d-xo.html who has made several very fine recordings of the Spanish piano repertoire - although to date I am unable to find Cordoba). Achucarro's tempi are marginally on the slow side, but allow one to listen right inside the music. José Iturbi, a generation previously (and a mentor of Achucarro) was also a fine executant of this corner of the piano repertoire (and - like Achucarro - of other composers too, for that matter)
this song goes well with an energy drink. : ) lol
benefits of meeting what?
I promised myself I would never comment again on anything John Williams did but I can't help myself.... Technically he has no equal. I think there is no other with the technical mastery John Williams has. However, musically, he destroys everything he plays. He stopped feeling music circa 1981. He even makes the opening Bm chords to Aranjuez sound wooden. A true virtuoso, yes. A musician? You may as well listen to a sequencer.
Im having trouble with the harmonic combined with chords. Does anyone have any pointers?
You play the harmonic by touching the pad of your right index finger exactly one octave above the note your left hand is stopping, while plucking the string with the middle or ring finger of your right hand.
Some moments of detachment maybe but nevertheless an absolutely incredible performance from surely the greatest classical guitarist ( Segovia is more of an artist))
Although I sometimes prefer Bream for some pieces, Williams' interpretation of Cordoba is peerless.
The Guitar is made by Smallman , carbon fibre struts.
He is playing Greg Smallman guitar ( about $25000)
the definite version for guitar is by williams
@akhrojjamal albeniz has died 1909 ..
i have the dvd, it sure would be better with an option to take out the talking.
whats the instrument ? Can you tell me ,please?
the piano
I mean the string one, perhaps guitar?
It's a Greg smallman lol
+Ardavan Amiri oh thanks!!
The instrument is a guitar. It sounds like an orchestra
Why is it so vain. What particular aspect of his playing makes you say that?
why? what's wrong with his guitar?
I actually prefer Bream's interpretation. I think the reason why is because I'm not a huge fan of the rasgueados on this interpretation.
@60moo Agreed. Williams is a very good guitarist and he's very accurate in terms of hitting all the notes. But I've always felt that his interpretations, especially on spanish pieces, were a bit too robotic, almost as if he's just going through the motions. Plus it doesn't help that he plays on a Smallman guitar. Those, in my opinion, are god awful guitars when it comes to tone. I can't tell from this video if he's playing on a Smallman or not. Audio is slightly distorted.
technically brilliant, musically as warm as a dead fish on ice. I would love to have his technique but how anyone can prefer his interpretations to Bream's is beyond me. It sounds as if the score has been programmed into a sequencer with a good guitar sample and someone just pressed the 'play' button. There is hardly any colour variation and he races through as if he has a bus to catch. Compare it to Bream's and here the difference.
この曲をギターで演奏できるのは、彼しかいないかな！
難曲をさらりと弾きこなしているように見える。
しかし、1：36からのharmonicsが最初、うまく出てないと感じるのは
私の耳が悪いのでしょうか。
2 people....... hahahahaha
Williams plays the piece way too fast to be able to be appreciated here...
it's slower than most piano versions.
Fake ;D trolololol
I’ve always hated William’s interpretation of Córdoba. It’s so vain!