Andres Segovia

Andrés Segovia was a renowned Spanish musician of the twentieth century, regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was the most important force in reestablishing the guitar as a concert instrument in the 20th century, chiefly through demonstrating its expressive and technical potential. He also influenced many composers to write for the guitar and transcribed numerous works from other instruments for his own instrument. Andrés Segovia was born on 21 February 1893 in Linares, Spain. He was the son of Jorge Osterberger, an Alsatian lithographer, and Emilia Luard Álvarez, a Galician woman. He received an unusually extensive education for women of his times, both in France and locally. His uncle, Justo Luard, ensured his introduction to the piano. Segovia began playing the guitar at age six. He was initially taught flamenco by an amateur guitarist named Agustinillo. However, he soon developed a taste for classical music and learned to play by himself. He was inspired by the works of Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, and other classical composers. He also developed his own technique and style that differed from the traditional methods of his time. Segovia gave his first public performance at age 16 in Granada. He then moved to Madrid and played his first professional concert there in 1909. He soon gained recognition and acclaim for his virtuosic and expressive performances. He also started to tour internationally and visited many countries in Europe and America. He met many influential musicians and composers who admired his artistry and wrote works for him. Some of them were Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Turina, Federico Moreno Torroba, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Alexandre Tansman, and Alberto Ginastera. Segovia also devoted himself to teaching and promoting the guitar as a serious instrument. He gave master classes in many prestigious institutions such as the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy; the University of California in Berkeley; and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He also influenced many generations of guitarists who became his students or followers. Some of them were John Williams, Christopher Parkening, Julian Bream, Oscar Ghiglia, Alirio Díaz, Eliot Fisk, Pepe Romero, and Narciso Yepes. Segovia was honored with many awards and distinctions for his contributions to music and culture. He received honorary doctorates from several universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, and Salamanca. He was also granted the title of 1st Marquis of Salobreña by King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1981. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1986. Segovia died on 2 June 1987 in Madrid at the age of 94. He had suffered a heart attack after a concert. His remains were exhumed from the Madrid cemetery where he was originally buried and brought to his hometown of Linares in 2002. A museum dedicated to his life and work was established there. Segovia left behind a legacy of musical works that reflect his love for the guitar and his talent as a composer and transcriber. He composed several original pieces for the guitar, such as Estudio sin luz, Remembranza, and Oración. He also transcribed many works from other instruments, such as the lute, the violin, the cello, and the piano. He adapted works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Claude Debussy, and Manuel Ponce. He also edited and published many collections of guitar music from different periods and styles. Segovia is widely regarded as the father of the modern classical guitar movement. He elevated the guitar from a folk or popular instrument to a concert instrument with a rich and varied repertoire. He also inspired many composers to write for the guitar and many guitarists to follow his example. He is remembered for his expressive performances, his wide palette of tone, and his distinctive musical personality, phrasing, and style.