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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
Van Halen couldn't do that.
mr. Segovia proved that the western-style 6-stringed guitar was worthy of respect as a serious classical instrument
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.
Segovia simply has no match it's that simple, his tone and his finger pressure touches on the strings have no equal.
Two Orcas after dinner simultaneously jumped up behind boat, head to tail, and walked away like ballet. George said to me. Where was camera?
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.
May the Lord and Sr Maria for Mr Segovia will see us in Heaven. Archangels, Angels, Joannis-Baptista, Martyrs and Saints.
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.
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.
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.
the connection between segovia and his guitar is perhaps one of the most esoteric qualities you'll find in this world.
to whoever decided to video his hands close-up, great job. That is literally exactly what I want to see.
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!
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 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.
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.
those massive sausage fingers, yet they dance up and down the neck like a ballerina.
Saw him at the Philadelphia Academy of Muaic in 1981, mesmerizing!
I was lucky enough to see and hear him in concert many years ago. He was a living monument.