My Dad studied and played alot of Andres Segovia music and taught his music to his advanced students. He took Me and my Rock and Roll buddies to see Segovia in Detroit back in the later 70's They couldn't believe how much sound one guy could bring out of a guitar. If my memory is correct Julian Alexander Bream studied under Segovia 🤔 Julian Bream was another great guitarist that shaped classical music My favorite is Diabelli Gui - Giuliani Grand Overture Thanks for posting this 👏
Warren, so happy to see you did a video on Segovia. I am from Linares, Jaen born and raised and studied classical guitar in the conservatory there that bears his name. The facade clock on the town hall plays a small part of "Estudio Sin Luz" (Study without light) when the hour strikes for everyone to hear, it is said Estudio Sin Luz was composed by him when he was blind with cataracts. His old home was converted into the Andrés Segovia museum and in the summer classical guitar concerts are usually free to attend in the beautiful patio. This video has brought me back many years to my childhood and I thank you for that!
@@scotthullinger4684 While Segovia did write some pieces, his was most notorious for transcribing classical pieces written for other instruments so they could be interpreted on the guitar. At the time there were classical guitar composers (which were mentioned in the video) as there are today too. Having said that, the classics are the most common pieces being taught to this day.
@@jalantraskasfritz4176 - Yes, I think I remember that little bit about Segovia. Seems like I have some of his recordings? But these days, I'm thrilled with a family of Spanish brothers - father also? - who've made recordings of original guitar music, rather than transcriptions. Forgot the name.
As soon as I got the email on this, I had to watch immediately! Such a huge influence on me. When I was in high school (early 90s), my closest friend entered a recital and chose to play Segovia. I transcribed the song he wanted to play and got a call from him the night before the recital telling me he just couldn't get it. I went over there and he's playing it with a pick. Rock guitarists! What can you do? So we were up all night getting that song down and, damn, if he didn't have it. Brought a tear to my eye. Finally, we get to the recital, he gets up there and plays the damn things EXACTLY as he did when I first found him struggling with it that night. Total disaster! ;-D
I’m continually trying to learn rock guitar in my middle age and Segovia is a great inspiration to me. His grace, economy of movement, relaxed hands and precision with those chubby sausage fingers are mesmerizing.
As a classical guitarist, its been interesting to note how the perception of Segovia has changed over the years. He went from a God, to almost a bad word, who would kick students off the masterclass stage if they dare question him. Now, I think (at least for me), the pendulum has swung back to the middle: a total game changer and a genius, with a sound that cannot even be remotely duplicated.
Amazing video. I am Spanish and I study classical guitar in Madrid. It is important to know the history of the guitar as we know it today, and you did an amazing job!!!
@@Producelikeapro Another spaniard here... great episode, and you did a nice job with the names, except Tárrega... it's tÁrrrrrega...(yeah, the hard R sound is a b*tch for you englishmen, I know...) tongue needs to go brrrrrrrrr and emphasis on the "a" not tarEga
When I was 16, I hated that the only guitar I had was strung with nylon strings. I wanted to play rock ‘n’ roll, dammit. Now I’m 61. Two months ago I bought a Spanish guitar both because I had become curious about it and I was inspired by Willie Nelson. I saw it as an instrument that would be easier to practice finger style on, and that it really did have a place in country music, standards, and even rock ‘n’ roll. Interestingly, however, it’s lead me to being obsessed with classical guitar music. it’s changed a lot of my perspectives on guitar. It’s too bad it took me five decades to figure all this out.
As a Classical Guitar Player I'm very pleased for this video. Thanks, Warren. For giving a space to our marvelous and beautiful instrument and one of its most great players!
LA is far from being a city of any sort of culture or of any admiration of real art; in terms of arts, it an outhouse, even in plebeian American terms.
A great overview of the maestro. I've always been amazed by the precision with which he moved those sausages around the fretboard. He was truly one of a kind and a consummate artist.
I'm very happy to see you speaking about non-north-americans or non-british musicians. I mean, I like their music a lot, but It's great to show that music of another countries have a huge importance too. I'm brazilian, and here we have so much more than Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. I hope to see you speaking about a brazilian musician someday. Abraços!
I love you for this! It speaks volumes about your knowledge and appreciation of music that you recognize Segovia's indelible imprint on the repertoire of the guitar. I saw him twice in the 80s. By then he was 90 something . . . he walked shakily out to his lone chair on the unamplified stage and after he sat down he looked perfectly regal. His dexterity was nothing like when he made his best reccordings (to me, the late 50s and 60s), but that tone, the singling out of certain notes, the perfect rubatos - all were still there, like the sound of a familiar voice. No one will ever sound like that again. To me it is still the apogee of the art.
21:22-21:28 Oscar Ghilia is shown in a masterclass in Siena. My teacher Ernesto Bitetti was also in that masterclass. Bitetti's session is on TH-cam. Segovia was hard on Ernesto, but a Dutch booking agent was present, and he signed Bitetti to some concert dates, and that began a 40-year concert career for Ernesto Bitetti.
Cool! A recording I had of Segovia playing Bach Cello Suite No. 1, inspired me to get the music and learn it, when I was a youngster. I enjoyed this, thanks!
Thanks for the excellent video. Segovia was instrumental in the development and promotion of the classical guitar repertoire. Thanks for highlighting the connections between Segovia and Tarrega who was key in the development of classical guitar technique. BTW, I love the artwork in the bottom right; essential for inspiration.
My cousin is a virtuoso Classical guitarist. He recently told me that if he began again he would go the Flamenco route. He spoke at great length about Tarrega and Segovia.
I agree with your flamenco comment. not everyone can play like Segovia. my classical guitar teacher was really a lutenist and now I enjoy a wide variety of styles
I saw him at the Kennedy Center. He was so brilliant, but I was not familiar with his works, just told that I had to see this man play before he or I died. He was very old at the time, but I remember I felt something special about him and the way he played. It was captivating. I thought it was in the late 70s when I saw him, but it may have been the very early 80s. Great vid as always Warren!
Warren, a well done presentation on the old Maestro. Thankfully today's classical guitarists appreciate the contributions of the many great players from jazz, rock and blues. Enjoy your channel!
Warren Well done on this presentation. I was fortunate enough to to see him in the late 60’s in Lausanne, and have never forgotten the impact he made that day.
Brilliant Warren and thank you. . like many, it reminds me of my learning from years ago. Actually the only guitar lessons I could obtain was classical (Showing my age) !!!! Anyway, I ended up studying with Carlos Bonell at the Royal college and met John Williams on a few occasions. Sadly, I didn’t meet or personally hear Segovia. Some of my favourite Classic Guitar works are from the Paraguayan Guitarist composer Agustine Barrios 1885 - 1944 - Check out the John Williams album “The Paraguayan” tremolo melodies and harmony at its finest and written for classical guitar... As you say, Segovia was the Father....Brilliant and thank you 🙏🏻 Jeff
Before switching to bass, I learnt classical with my first book by Frederick Noad which was the course book use in music college. Then later I discovered Segovia - beautiful player. Another great history lesson.
This video synthethizes masterfully what I've learned about the dizzying rise of classical guitar in less than a century. Pity there wasn't a video dedicated to Tárrega before this one, cause he was interesting, to say the least. From running away from home to join a gypsy band at 11 y.o., to spending months training his paralyzed right hand to play after a embolia. What a legend.
Oh, I had missed this one. When Segovia died I was studying classical guitar at the conservatory and they had a poetry contest where the winners would get sent to his widow and mine got selected! I was a Segovia fan and Hendrix and Brian May fan all at the same time
A stunning compilation of vital information. Thank you so much. Having begun my guitar journey with greats like Bob Dylan and the Beatles, after hearing Segovia's instrument, I immediately knew where I wanted to go in music. True inspiration. It's been an arduous journey, but well worth the price of a ticket. Ps: I know it can be tricky at times, but do give a bit more work on name pronunciation. I remember being immediately sharply criticized when I pronounced Tárrega"s name incorrectly. The accent is on the "a". Just a hint.😇
Wow! I am impressed with this documentary! I love Segovia and enjoyed the detail you gave to his life and work especially some of his comments on other genres!
@@Producelikeapro - I also like that much younger group of Spanish siblings, if memory serves, who also include their father. Can't remember their name at the moment.
I started(and failed) trying to play classical guitar at about 14/15. It was the 60s and there was a PBS program "Frederick Noad on Guitar". He taught beginning guitar on the TV. I got the book that accompanied the coarse. But is was very difficult and low and behold I discover chords, and want on to acoustic and finally electric guitar. But it all started with the classical.
A unique artist for sure. We as classical guitarists owe him a great debt, for elevating the instrument to a serious concert/ recital instrument. We can, should and do debate some of his stylistic choices - often into the late hours of the night - but at his best, he was simply an outstanding musician with the ability to captivate any audience.
Thanks so much Warren! Like so many guitarists - I began by learning classical on a nylon string. Too enamoured by rock and folk guitar to continue playing classical, but you made me realize what a strong foundation it provided. Fingerstyle playing came much easier and realize how much my early classical training helped with right hand technique. A great piece on the master, Segovia, with thanks to you and your team for all the research and hard work putting this together! Cheers!
Thank you for a great mini-doc on Segovia, Warren! I've watched Segovia for many years and have always been amazed at his finger movement, particularly his fretboard hand (left), which seems to drift and glide with a minimal amount of lift off the strings. My next absolute favourite of finger style playing is Chet Atkins. Listen to any video of Chet Atkins and notice you will virtually never hear his fingers "scrape" the strings. Each note and barre cord is crisp and distinctive.
Just excellent. I recall with awe a solo recital of the mid-1960s He performed in the LA vicinity, but I’m unsure if my memory serves me, or I’ve created a fantasy of that treasure. Thank you. Romain
great video, thanks Warren! I've been hearing guitar music since I was born thanks to elder siblings - Hank Marvin was the first guitarist I was aware of (pre-Beatles!) and Segovia was second, to me he was classical guitar
Nice video indeed, Segovia for sure had a huge role on the “discovery” of the guitar but it is NOT only his merit. Let’s say that he was extremely good to make people talk about him. He didn’t said all the truth, he wasn’t the only "discovering" the guitar and never had good words for the others and in particular for a big one, i’m talking of Barrios who was contemporary at him and with an extraordinary if not superior talent at the guitar, plus he was a marvelous composer. Segovia not even allow to his student to talk about Barrios. Barrios was his nemesis and In other words Segovia was frightened by Barrios who was an incredible player.. and a great composer too! If Barrios didn’t die young and had tour a little more this video would be about him. He died just before to tour US. If only… We have to thank Segovia for all the transcriptions and for reaching the attention of contemporary composers on the guitar, this is in my opinion his real credit. I’ve studied with one of Segovia student, i recognize Segovia’s legacy and his incredible talent at the guitar but he is not the only one, there are other guitarists who saved the guitar, with, before and after him. PS: Paganini played and wrote a lot for the guitar and it already had 6 chores.
I loved this! I grew up listening to Segovia, and his recording of Tarrega's "Recuerdos de La Alahmbra" is a particular favorite. I have a few of his albums and am also a classical musician, though not a guitarist. Your video made me feel like I was back in college in one of Music History class. Quality content right here, without having to pay tuition costs! Thank you so much :-)
Excellent research you’ve done. I wrote an academic paper that contained similar substance but you managed to draw so much interesting information. Only criticism is the pronunciations of the composers. Great presentation and thank you for doing this.
Segovia is definitely the King of Kings for classical guitar. Not only his virtuosity in playing it, but also his ambition and energy to put the guitar onto the most respectable position as a musical instrument.
Wow! Remember as a kid my dad talking about ”Segovia” and how he was the master but I was blind to everything but Slash in those days 😂 need more of this content and your amazing knowledge. Superb episode!
Thank you for the informative overview of maestro Segovia. To his credit, he was suspicious of modern music and modern culture in general. He saw that classical art forms - which were built on proven theories and high-performance standards - endured the test of time and were inspiring centuries later. But the modern streams in art and music of the 20th century were in too much turmoil; tastes changed too quickly. He also saw modern influences on the Flamenco, which is folklore, and he did not like those modern influences at all. In his eyes, it was cheapening of the otherwise rich cultural heritage. Perhaps that is where his "snobbish attitude" comes from: he respected original folklore and ephemeral classical style. He believed both had resisted and can stand the test of time. He only wanted that the guitar, a lowly instrument which came to the music stage too late, also joins the ranks of the classical instruments. For if the guitar joins and stays in that realm, he believed, it will be preserved for the future.
While - growing up in Spain - I was of course aware of Segovia, it's great that you made a whole video around him and his influence. And kudos for trying to pronounce the Spanish names. I'm sure they were a tongue twister. Thanks as always for the video!
Amazing video Warren! I played classical guitar for more than 10 years when I was a teenager. I had to stop because of my job, my nails were broken all the time. I studied Andres Segovia’s techniques. His posture and how he places his hands and fingers. Difficult but makes playing easier when you achieve that posture. My teacher also tells me he was an “amazing idiot”. But despite of that, all the guitar players must thank him his contribution. A fun joke about classical guitar players my teacher told me: A guitar player is a person who spends half of his life tuning his guitar, and the other half playing out of tune!
Thanks for this amazing video. I honestly only play rock, but when I listen to Paco de Lucia and Vicente Amigo I visit a mental place where nobody else can take me. My favourite players are Hendrix, Page and those two guys. Very different from each other but all of them true innovators and geniuses. It’d be amazing if you could do a video on Paco de Lucia who recently passed away and left an amazing legacy that IMO now lives in the hands of Vicente Amigo.
Awesome warren! I actually prefer john williams to segovia. When i was studying classical my teacher asked me to play a high e, and said can you change the sound, and i was like no, an e is an e. Then he played it dolce and ponticello, and my jaw dropped. Playing classical made my rhythm playing so much better as well as understanding composition and structure.
Another great piece of work. Thanks!!! Where were you when I was writing my Independent Study papers for my Doctor of Music in Guitar Performance and Literature at Indiana University in the 1990s? Haha
Without a doubt a genius. Just makes you think 2 things a) how afraid must he have been if he needed to dis The Beatles b) how flexible was his musicality if he did not hear the musicality in The Beatles... For they truely dreamed with music.
A ‘dis’ would be a conscious act of some kind of resentment, however Segovia wouldn’t have been speaking from this place. He would just simply be expressing an opinion based on his studies, love and exceptional dedication to playing Classical guitar. We don’t have to agree with him, however I don’t believe that there was any real malice, it was his honest opinion
@@tommibjork To Segovia's credit, he was suspicious of modern music and modern culture in general. He survived WW1, the Spanish civil war, the WW2, the Cold War etc., and those were times of rapid twists and turns and radical change in fads. He saw that classical art forms - which were built on proven art and music theories and high-performance standards - endured the test of time and were inspiring centuries later. But the modern streams in art and music of the 20th century were in too much turmoil, as he said once; tastes changed too quickly. He also saw modern influences on the Flamenco, which is folklore, and he did not like those modern influences at all. In his eyes, it was cheapening of the otherwise rich cultural heritage. Similar sentiment once expressed traditional musician Paco Peña, he said that much of that which poses as Flamenco today is "artificially romantic". Perhaps that is where Segovia's "snobbish attitude" comes from: he respected original folklore and ephemeral classical style. He believed both had resisted and can stand the test of time. The only thing that was missing is that lowly guitar is accepted as an instrument fully capable of executing demanding classical repertoire. And he had to prove that even to the most suspicious nitpickers; which was gargantuan task!
One of my favorite Segovia stories is about when he happened to see Django Reinhardt in France and was BLOWN AWAY by the performance. He went up to Django and asked where he could buy the music and Django just laughed and said, "You can't, that's IMPROVISED."
Fantastic video and I love the channel since finding you recently. This is of particular interest as I am a guitar and classical guitar teacher. I would like to put an alternative view to one item you mention re Tarrega and Segovia never meeting, they actually did. Segovia was aware of flamenco during his formative years as a musician but stated that he "did not have a taste" for the form and chose instead the works of Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, and other classical composers. Tárrega agreed to give the self-taught Segovia some lessons but died sadly before he could take up the offer of lessons. John Williams was taught by his father, afterwards attending summer courses with Segovia at the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and studying music at the Royal College of Music in London." I was never able to find anywhere that William's studied with Segovia apart from these courses.
Thanks ever so much for your great comment! I really appreciate it! In Segovia's Biography on Page 43 he stated. 'I have sworn to walk in the steps of the sainted Tarrega, who lived and died for his beloved instrument with little hope of glory or gain'. 'Did you ever meet him? Don Joe asked me. 'No, but he is as known to me as if I had spent years at his side. He created the should of the guitar'. I'm also a huge fan of both John Williams and Julian Bream.
@@Producelikeapro Absolutely, Williams and Bream are wonderful guitarists.Thankfully JW is still able to make many more recordings hopefully for everyone to enjoy. Two very brilliant guitarists also are Roland Dyens, sadly no longer with us and the wonderful Andrew York. York even introduced reggae into his classical playing with his composition "Marley's Ghost" again expanding the voice of classical guitar...
Warren, this is brilliant, particularly the footage midway of Segovia playing and speaking. Somewhere beyond mastery; maybe transcendence? Wouldn’t you know it - another guitar player preoccupied with tone! 🙃
That one was another eye-opener! Thanks! I once did the "amplification" for Wulfin Lieske - the guy who's holding the Torres guitar at 2:44. And he showed me a crazy detail of the (replica of a) historic instrument he had with him. In order to achieve higher volumes, the sound hole of the guitar was reinforced with a metal cone looming in the body. The guitar was really loud in front of it, but a the player's "position" it sounded almost boringly weak! Did you ever had the chance to put hands on something similar? I mean: since you finished your 12 hours practice?
I have a request, Please please make a video about Amr Diab from Egypt. King of mediterranean pop music. He made many new styles. His music is out of the world. I am Indian i am not even Arab but i am hooked.
What other artists do you think changed music? Comment below!
Luis Alberto Spinetta
My Dad
studied and played alot of Andres Segovia music and taught his music to his advanced students.
He took Me and my Rock and Roll buddies to see Segovia in Detroit back in the later 70's
They couldn't believe how much sound one guy could bring out of a guitar.
If my memory is correct Julian Alexander Bream studied under Segovia 🤔
Julian Bream was another great guitarist that shaped classical music
My favorite is Diabelli Gui - Giuliani Grand Overture
Thanks for posting this 👏
Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Booker T. & the MG’s, The Doors & The Pixies
@@Arcadiadiv Warren’s already covered him in another excellent episode.
New Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren!
Warren, so happy to see you did a video on Segovia. I am from Linares, Jaen born and raised and studied classical guitar in the conservatory there that bears his name. The facade clock on the town hall plays a small part of "Estudio Sin Luz" (Study without light) when the hour strikes for everyone to hear, it is said Estudio Sin Luz was composed by him when he was blind with cataracts. His old home was converted into the Andrés Segovia museum and in the summer classical guitar concerts are usually free to attend in the beautiful patio. This video has brought me back many years to my childhood and I thank you for that!
Thanks ever so much for sharing! I really appreciate your kind words!
Thanks ever so much for sharing about the museum! I hope to travel their myself one day!
Was Segovia by chance a composer of guitar music? Or do most such guitarists just end up plying the same old great classics?
@@scotthullinger4684 While Segovia did write some pieces, his was most notorious for transcribing classical pieces written for other instruments so they could be interpreted on the guitar. At the time there were classical guitar composers (which were mentioned in the video) as there are today too. Having said that, the classics are the most common pieces being taught to this day.
@@jalantraskasfritz4176 - Yes, I think I remember that little bit about Segovia. Seems like I have some of his recordings?
But these days, I'm thrilled with a family of Spanish brothers - father also? - who've made recordings of original guitar music, rather than transcriptions. Forgot the name.
I find it somewhat humorous that it doesn't matter what century we're in, you still have to put up with dad if you want to be a guitarist.
Indeed Ed!
I found it haunting
@@Robil63 agreed. My father was very supportive, his father didn't;t allow him to play, so he remembered that and was. very supportive of me!
Yeah, my Dad only gave in after I grew up and left. THen he bought me a Kawai custom-built guitar for my birthday in 1976
Francisco Tarrega three times left home as small child to can play guitar with gipsies - as 10 year
As soon as I got the email on this, I had to watch immediately! Such a huge influence on me. When I was in high school (early 90s), my closest friend entered a recital and chose to play Segovia. I transcribed the song he wanted to play and got a call from him the night before the recital telling me he just couldn't get it. I went over there and he's playing it with a pick. Rock guitarists! What can you do? So we were up all night getting that song down and, damn, if he didn't have it. Brought a tear to my eye. Finally, we get to the recital, he gets up there and plays the damn things EXACTLY as he did when I first found him struggling with it that night. Total disaster! ;-D
I’m continually trying to learn rock guitar in my middle age and Segovia is a great inspiration to me. His grace, economy of movement, relaxed hands and precision with those chubby sausage fingers are mesmerizing.
Agreed! Incredible musician!
Lol...well said, my friend 😁
Agreed Robert
As a classical guitarist, its been interesting to note how the perception of Segovia has changed over the years. He went from a God, to almost a bad word, who would kick students off the masterclass stage if they dare question him. Now, I think (at least for me), the pendulum has swung back to the middle: a total game changer and a genius, with a sound that cannot even be remotely duplicated.
Amazing video. I am Spanish and I study classical guitar in Madrid. It is important to know the history of the guitar as we know it today, and you did an amazing job!!!
Wow! Thanks ever so much for your great comment! I really appreciate it!
@@Producelikeapro Another spaniard here... great episode, and you did a nice job with the names, except Tárrega... it's tÁrrrrrega...(yeah, the hard R sound is a b*tch for you englishmen, I know...) tongue needs to go brrrrrrrrr and emphasis on the "a"
not tarEga
@@TheChzoronzon haha indeed! I can NOT roll my 'R's' haha
When I was 16, I hated that the only guitar I had was strung with nylon strings. I wanted to play rock ‘n’ roll, dammit. Now I’m 61. Two months ago I bought a Spanish guitar both because I had become curious about it and I was inspired by Willie Nelson. I saw it as an instrument that would be easier to practice finger style on, and that it really did have a place in country music, standards, and even rock ‘n’ roll. Interestingly, however, it’s lead me to being obsessed with classical guitar music.
it’s changed a lot of my perspectives on guitar.
It’s too bad it took me five decades to figure all this out.
As a Classical Guitar Player I'm very pleased for this video. Thanks, Warren. For giving a space to our marvelous and beautiful instrument and one of its most great players!
Thanks ever so much Manuel!
Saw Segovia in LA with about 10 people in the audience. Mostly students. Very sad but the performance was amazing given his age at the time.
I wish I could have seen that! Thanks ever so much for sharing!
When I saw him at age 93 in Chicago's Orchestra Hall, the house was full (March, 1986).
LA is far from being a city of any sort of culture or of any admiration of real art; in terms of arts, it an outhouse, even in plebeian American terms.
Saw Segovia at the RFH-stunning performance by the Maestro.... I felt like giving up!
Wow! That would have been amazing!
A great overview of the maestro. I've always been amazed by the precision with which he moved those sausages around the fretboard. He was truly one of a kind and a consummate artist.
Thanks ever so much Darrell!
But his left pinky looks so strong.
A video about Segovia: totally unexpected but very much appreciated. Thanks
Thanks ever so much!
and subsequently John Williams, whose unique ability to play without dragging his fingers on the strings is just amazing.
I love both John Williams and Julian Bream’s playing
I'm very happy to see you speaking about non-north-americans or non-british musicians. I mean, I like their music a lot, but It's great to show that music of another countries have a huge importance too. I'm brazilian, and here we have so much more than Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. I hope to see you speaking about a brazilian musician someday. Abraços!
I love you for this! It speaks volumes about your knowledge and appreciation of music that you recognize Segovia's indelible imprint on the repertoire of the guitar. I saw him twice in the 80s. By then he was 90 something . . . he walked shakily out to his lone chair on the unamplified stage and after he sat down he looked perfectly regal. His dexterity was nothing like when he made his best reccordings (to me, the late 50s and 60s), but that tone, the singling out of certain notes, the perfect rubatos - all were still there, like the sound of a familiar voice. No one will ever sound like that again. To me it is still the apogee of the art.
Andres is perhaps my favorite spanish/classical guitarist! Really beautiful playing he did!
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
@@Producelikeapro Cheers!
Thankyou Warren.
You are simply the best.
Proper
Thanks ever so much Yonnie!
21:22-21:28 Oscar Ghilia is shown in a masterclass in Siena. My teacher Ernesto Bitetti was also in that masterclass. Bitetti's session is on TH-cam. Segovia was hard on Ernesto, but a Dutch booking agent was present, and he signed Bitetti to some concert dates, and that began a 40-year concert career for Ernesto Bitetti.
Cool! A recording I had of Segovia playing Bach Cello Suite No. 1, inspired me to get the music and learn it, when I was a youngster. I enjoyed this, thanks!
Wow! Thanks ever so much for sharing! Yes, my Father played Segovia, John Williams and Julian Bream in the house! It was marvellous!
yes, and then I later went on to listen to the Cello versions.
@@rumginray yes, beautiful!
Thanks for the excellent video. Segovia was instrumental in the development and promotion of the classical guitar repertoire. Thanks for highlighting the connections between Segovia and Tarrega who was key in the development of classical guitar technique. BTW, I love the artwork in the bottom right; essential for inspiration.
Spain is a land of great guitarists and we owe Segovia A LOT for that.
My cousin is a virtuoso Classical guitarist. He recently told me that if he began again he would go the Flamenco route. He spoke at great length about Tarrega and Segovia.
Thanks ever so much for sharing that Pat!!
I agree with your flamenco comment. not everyone can play like Segovia. my classical guitar teacher was really a lutenist and now I enjoy a wide variety of styles
I saw him at the Kennedy Center. He was so brilliant, but I was not familiar with his works, just told that I had to see this man play before he or I died. He was very old at the time, but I remember I felt something special about him and the way he played. It was captivating. I thought it was in the late 70s when I saw him, but it may have been the very early 80s. Great vid as always Warren!
Warren, a well done presentation on the old Maestro. Thankfully today's classical guitarists appreciate the contributions of the many great players from jazz, rock and blues. Enjoy your channel!
Warren
Well done on this presentation. I was fortunate enough to to see him in the late 60’s in Lausanne, and have never forgotten the impact he made that day.
That's amazing Lynn! Thanks ever so much
Brilliant Warren and thank you. . like many, it reminds me of my learning from years ago. Actually the only guitar lessons I could obtain was classical (Showing my age) !!!! Anyway, I ended up studying with Carlos Bonell at the Royal college and met John Williams on a few occasions. Sadly, I didn’t meet or personally hear Segovia. Some of my favourite Classic Guitar works are from the Paraguayan Guitarist composer Agustine Barrios 1885 - 1944 - Check out the John Williams album “The Paraguayan” tremolo melodies and harmony at its finest and written for classical guitar... As you say, Segovia was the Father....Brilliant and thank you 🙏🏻 Jeff
Before switching to bass, I learnt classical with my first book by Frederick Noad which was the course book use in music college. Then later I discovered Segovia - beautiful player. Another great history lesson.
Thanks ever so much
I appreciate the insight! He is a very important part of the guitars development
I´ve watched a lot of videos about Segovia, this is probably the best of all. Truly good.
The piece at 3:45 reminds me of Jethro Tull and makes me wonder if Segovia was one of their influences.
Great choice! Love Segovia😍😍
Agreed! I'm a huge fan! What an incredibly important musician!
This video synthethizes masterfully what I've learned about the dizzying rise of classical guitar in less than a century.
Pity there wasn't a video dedicated to Tárrega before this one, cause he was interesting, to say the least. From running away from home to join a gypsy band at 11 y.o., to spending months training his paralyzed right hand to play after a embolia. What a legend.
Fantastic. Segovia is my ultimate inspiration.
Thanks ever so much my friend!
Oh, I had missed this one. When Segovia died I was studying classical guitar at the conservatory and they had a poetry contest where the winners would get sent to his widow and mine got selected! I was a Segovia fan and Hendrix and Brian May fan all at the same time
A stunning compilation of vital information. Thank you so much. Having begun my guitar journey with greats like Bob Dylan and the Beatles, after hearing Segovia's instrument, I immediately knew where I wanted to go in music. True inspiration. It's been an arduous journey, but well worth the price of a ticket.
Ps: I know it can be tricky at times, but do give a bit more work on name pronunciation. I remember being immediately sharply criticized when I pronounced Tárrega"s name incorrectly. The accent is on the "a". Just a hint.😇
Wow! I am impressed with this documentary! I love Segovia and enjoyed the detail you gave to his life and work especially some of his comments on other genres!
One of the best - if not the VERY best - classical guitarists ever.
Agreed Scott
@@Producelikeapro - I also like that much younger group of Spanish siblings, if memory serves, who also include their father. Can't remember their name at the moment.
Your comment is utterly absurd.
Here I am discovering new(old) videos. Segovia had a unique sweet & deep sound every classical guitarist have to listen at least once in their live.
Thanks for watching Pablo!
I started(and failed) trying to play classical guitar at about 14/15. It was the 60s and there was a PBS program "Frederick Noad on Guitar". He taught beginning guitar on the TV. I got the book that accompanied the coarse. But is was very difficult and low and behold I discover chords, and want on to acoustic and finally electric guitar. But it all started with the classical.
A unique artist for sure. We as classical guitarists owe him a great debt, for elevating the instrument to a serious concert/ recital instrument. We can, should and do debate some of his stylistic choices - often into the late hours of the night - but at his best, he was simply an outstanding musician with the ability to captivate any audience.
Beautiful introduction to Segovia. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to teach us about Segovia.
Thanks ever so much! Glad you enjoyed the video
Thanks so much Warren! Like so many guitarists - I began by learning classical on a nylon string. Too enamoured by rock and folk guitar to continue playing classical, but you made me realize what a strong foundation it provided. Fingerstyle playing came much easier and realize how much my early classical training helped with right hand technique. A great piece on the master, Segovia, with thanks to you and your team for all the research and hard work putting this together! Cheers!
Great, great history lesson that makes all of us realise once again that we stand on the shoulder of giants. Thank you Warren.
Thanks ever so much
Thank you for a great mini-doc on Segovia, Warren! I've watched Segovia for many years and have always been amazed at his finger movement, particularly his fretboard hand (left), which seems to drift and glide with a minimal amount of lift off the strings.
My next absolute favourite of finger style playing is Chet Atkins. Listen to any video of Chet Atkins and notice you will virtually never hear his fingers "scrape" the strings. Each note and barre cord is crisp and distinctive.
Thanks ever so much! Yes, Chet is high on the list!!
Just excellent. I recall with awe a solo recital of the mid-1960s He performed in the LA vicinity, but I’m unsure if my memory serves me, or I’ve created a fantasy of that treasure. Thank you. Romain
Thanks Romain for the great comment about
great video, thanks Warren! I've been hearing guitar music since I was born thanks to elder siblings - Hank Marvin was the first guitarist I was aware of (pre-Beatles!) and Segovia was second, to me he was classical guitar
Thank you for this interesting film. I really enjoyed and will continue to make more interesting and good films. Thank you
Nice video indeed, Segovia for sure had a huge role on the “discovery” of the guitar but it is NOT only his merit. Let’s say that he was extremely good to make people talk about him. He didn’t said all the truth, he wasn’t the only "discovering" the guitar and never had good words for the others and in particular for a big one, i’m talking of Barrios who was contemporary at him and with an extraordinary if not superior talent at the guitar, plus he was a marvelous composer.
Segovia not even allow to his student to talk about Barrios. Barrios was his nemesis and In other words Segovia was frightened by Barrios who was an incredible player.. and a great composer too! If Barrios didn’t die young and had tour a little more this video would be about him. He died just before to tour US. If only…
We have to thank Segovia for all the transcriptions and for reaching the attention of contemporary composers on the guitar, this is in my opinion his real credit.
I’ve studied with one of Segovia student, i recognize Segovia’s legacy and his incredible talent at the guitar but he is not the only one, there are other guitarists who saved the guitar, with, before and after him.
PS: Paganini played and wrote a lot for the guitar and it already had 6 chores.
Warren, thank you so much for this important feature. Greetings from Germany
I loved this! I grew up listening to Segovia, and his recording of Tarrega's "Recuerdos de La Alahmbra" is a particular favorite. I have a few of his albums and am also a classical musician, though not a guitarist. Your video made me feel like I was back in college in one of Music History class. Quality content right here, without having to pay tuition costs! Thank you so much :-)
I really appreciate this video as someone born in Andalusia who plays guitar. Thanks
Thanks ever so much! I’m glad to be able to help
Excellent research you’ve done. I wrote an academic paper that contained similar substance but you managed to draw so much interesting information.
Only criticism is the pronunciations of the composers.
Great presentation and thank you for doing this.
Oops, I've just read the text. Should have written Heitor. Knew you would'nt have missed him. Great Video! Very informative. Keep on your good work!
No problem! Thanks
Segovia is definitely the King of Kings for classical guitar. Not only his virtuosity in playing it, but also his ambition and energy to put the guitar onto the most respectable position as a musical instrument.
Segovia and Carlos Montoya both had me hooked by the end of the 1950’s, having seen both in concert.
Wow! That’s absolutely
This is a wonderful series Warren, and very enjoyable. Thank you for posting.
Thanks ever so much
Wow! Remember as a kid my dad talking about ”Segovia” and how he was the master but I was blind to everything but Slash in those days 😂 need more of this content and your amazing knowledge. Superb episode!
Thanks ever so much Jonas
Segovia is why I play a classical guitar , rip.
The Spanish Classical Guitar... one of my favourites... I dig you channel name by the way.... at first glance I thought it was my channel.
Yes, for me I heard Classical guitar first, John Williams and Julian Bream were played in my house! Then Django Reinhardt!
@@thebeardedsuperheroes9405 Agreed 100%!
How about a video on recording the classical guitar?
Marvellous
Thank you for the informative overview of maestro Segovia. To his credit, he was suspicious of modern music and modern culture in general. He saw that classical art forms - which were built on proven theories and high-performance standards - endured the test of time and were inspiring centuries later. But the modern streams in art and music of the 20th century were in too much turmoil; tastes changed too quickly. He also saw modern influences on the Flamenco, which is folklore, and he did not like those modern influences at all. In his eyes, it was cheapening of the otherwise rich cultural heritage. Perhaps that is where his "snobbish attitude" comes from: he respected original folklore and ephemeral classical style. He believed both had resisted and can stand the test of time. He only wanted that the guitar, a lowly instrument which came to the music stage too late, also joins the ranks of the classical instruments. For if the guitar joins and stays in that realm, he believed, it will be preserved for the future.
Very interesting video again Warren and well done with all the pronunciations!
Haha I tried my best! Thanks ever so much
Thanks for this interesting look at a classical great.
You’re very welcome
Great music history lesson! It is amazing how many genius artists from Spain and France appeared and influenced the early modern Industrial Age.
Yes, indeed! Such a huge influence!
While - growing up in Spain - I was of course aware of Segovia, it's great that you made a whole video around him and his influence.
And kudos for trying to pronounce the Spanish names. I'm sure they were a tongue twister.
Thanks as always for the video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks ever so much!
Many thanks for this video in particular, and keep up the exceptional work sir.
Excellent segment to this series sir !!!!!
Thanks ever so much
Amazing video Warren! I played classical guitar for more than 10 years when I was a teenager. I had to stop because of my job, my nails were broken all the time. I studied Andres Segovia’s techniques. His posture and how he places his hands and fingers. Difficult but makes playing easier when you achieve that posture. My teacher also tells me he was an “amazing idiot”. But despite of that, all the guitar players must thank him his contribution. A fun joke about classical guitar players my teacher told me: A guitar player is a person who spends half of his life tuning his guitar, and the other half playing out of tune!
Wow! Thanks ever so much for your wonderful comment
Agustín Barrios Mangoré!!!! We would really love to know more about him!!!!! Great video as always Warren :)
Yes - thank you for recognizing Segovia!
You're very welcome! Thanks ever so much!
Thanks for this amazing video. I honestly only play rock, but when I listen to Paco de Lucia and Vicente Amigo I visit a mental place where nobody else can take me. My favourite players are Hendrix, Page and those two guys. Very different from each other but all of them true innovators and geniuses. It’d be amazing if you could do a video on Paco de Lucia who recently passed away and left an amazing legacy that IMO now lives in the hands of Vicente Amigo.
Love your videos my man! Glad you put the spotlight on such fantastic musicians!
Thanks ever so much Nate!
What a great video! Thank you Warren
Awesome warren! I actually prefer john williams to segovia. When i was studying classical my teacher asked me to play a high e, and said can you change the sound, and i was like no, an e is an e. Then he played it dolce and ponticello, and my jaw dropped. Playing classical made my rhythm playing so much better as well as understanding composition and structure.
Great research and a very interesting and educating video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great piece of work.
Thanks!!!
Where were you when I was writing my Independent Study papers for my Doctor of Music in Guitar Performance and Literature at Indiana University in the 1990s? Haha
Another amazing, insightful video thank you Warren!
Thanks ever so much my friend! That really means a lot!
Thanks for the post--I really enjoyed it.
You’re very welcome
Dreaming with music nail free! Good stuff Warren!!
Fantastic, beautiful, nice video. Thanks.
Thanks ever so much!
Muchas gracias!
A throughly superb essay on Segovia; I learnt a great deal, thank you! 🌝
Thanks ever so much Paul!
here in cadiz province (andalucia) segovia is considered like a god along with paco de lucia :) amazing episode :)
Without a doubt a genius. Just makes you think 2 things a) how afraid must he have been if he needed to dis The Beatles b) how flexible was his musicality if he did not hear the musicality in The Beatles... For they truely dreamed with music.
A ‘dis’ would be a conscious act of some kind of resentment, however Segovia wouldn’t have been speaking from this place. He would just simply be expressing an opinion based on his studies, love and exceptional dedication to playing Classical guitar. We don’t have to agree with him, however I don’t believe that there was any real malice, it was his honest opinion
Segovia dissed pretty much everyone but himself, tbh. Flamenco, pop and fellow classical performers and composers
Yes, extraordinary people sometimes behave unconventionally. Would be foolish to expect people like that to behave like a common people. 😊
@@tommibjork To Segovia's credit, he was suspicious of modern music and modern culture in general. He survived WW1, the Spanish civil war, the WW2, the Cold War etc., and those were times of rapid twists and turns and radical change in fads. He saw that classical art forms - which were built on proven art and music theories and high-performance standards - endured the test of time and were inspiring centuries later. But the modern streams in art and music of the 20th century were in too much turmoil, as he said once; tastes changed too quickly. He also saw modern influences on the Flamenco, which is folklore, and he did not like those modern influences at all. In his eyes, it was cheapening of the otherwise rich cultural heritage. Similar sentiment once expressed traditional musician Paco Peña, he said that much of that which poses as Flamenco today is "artificially romantic". Perhaps that is where Segovia's "snobbish attitude" comes from: he respected original folklore and ephemeral classical style. He believed both had resisted and can stand the test of time. The only thing that was missing is that lowly guitar is accepted as an instrument fully capable of executing demanding classical repertoire. And he had to prove that even to the most suspicious nitpickers; which was gargantuan task!
One of my favorite Segovia stories is about when he happened to see Django Reinhardt in France and was BLOWN AWAY by the performance. He went up to Django and asked where he could buy the music and Django just laughed and said, "You can't, that's IMPROVISED."
Probably not a true story
@@hectorgarcia9790 look it up.
Thank you for the education. Really enjoyed it and love the humor too 😊
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks ever so much
Great content. Well done research. Congratulations and Thank you for spreading his legacy.
Thanks ever so much
Fantastic video and I love the channel since finding you recently. This is of particular interest as I am a guitar and classical guitar teacher. I would like to put an alternative view to one item you mention re Tarrega and Segovia never meeting, they actually did. Segovia was aware of flamenco during his formative years as a musician but stated that he "did not have a taste" for the form and chose instead the works of Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, and other classical composers. Tárrega agreed to give the self-taught Segovia some lessons but died sadly before he could take up the offer of lessons.
John Williams was taught by his father, afterwards attending summer courses with Segovia at the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and studying music at the Royal College of Music in London." I was never able to find anywhere that William's studied with Segovia apart from these courses.
Thanks ever so much for your great comment! I really appreciate it! In Segovia's Biography on Page 43 he stated. 'I have sworn to walk in the steps of the sainted Tarrega, who lived and died for his beloved instrument with little hope of glory or gain'. 'Did you ever meet him? Don Joe asked me. 'No, but he is as known to me as if I had spent years at his side. He created the should of the guitar'. I'm also a huge fan of both John Williams and Julian Bream.
@@Producelikeapro Absolutely, Williams and Bream are wonderful guitarists.Thankfully JW is still able to make many more recordings hopefully for everyone to enjoy. Two very brilliant guitarists also are Roland Dyens, sadly no longer with us and the wonderful Andrew York. York even introduced reggae into his classical playing with his composition "Marley's Ghost" again expanding the voice of classical guitar...
Warren, this is brilliant, particularly the footage midway of Segovia playing and speaking. Somewhere beyond mastery; maybe transcendence?
Wouldn’t you know it - another guitar player preoccupied with tone! 🙃
That one was another eye-opener! Thanks! I once did the "amplification" for Wulfin Lieske - the guy who's holding the Torres guitar at 2:44. And he showed me a crazy detail of the (replica of a) historic instrument he had with him. In order to achieve higher volumes, the sound hole of the guitar was reinforced with a metal cone looming in the body. The guitar was really loud in front of it, but a the player's "position" it sounded almost boringly weak! Did you ever had the chance to put hands on something similar? I mean: since you finished your 12 hours practice?
That'd be the tornavoz, which Torres used in a few of his earlier guitars. Tárrega's first Torres guitar had one.
Outstanding!!
Thanks ever so much
I Love this upload! Will you profile his contemporary Augustin Barrios in the near future?
I do hope so!
I have a request, Please please make a video about Amr Diab from Egypt. King of mediterranean pop music. He made many new styles. His music is out of the world. I am Indian i am not even Arab but i am hooked.
Thanks ever so much for the suggestion! I will check it out!
@@Producelikeapro 👍😍 Thank you Mr. Warren.
Thank you Warren. A couple of my favorite channels here are Denis Azabagic and Tatyana Ryzhkova. Wonderful players, lots of inspiration.
Loved this. Really interesting. Thank you.
I will always be a Segovia devotee…I’m 64 years old, and have been playing guitar for 50+ years.
That was a fantastic presentation. I really love Segovia's playing and your presentation was very informative.
Thanks ever so much
What a brilliant idea ! Excellente !
Thank you for your knowledge and your great effort
Thanks ever so much
Well done. Thank you.