Overview

Presents the memories and insights of a great musician-a master of the guitar whose performances and exuberant, caring nature have brought joy to many around the world. Pepe Romero (b. 1944) has been one of the preeminent exponents of classical and flamenco guitar for over sixty years. He is renowned worldwide for his innumerable concerts and many recordings of a wide variety of repertoire, from solos to concertos and works for guitar duet and quartet. Indeed, Celedonio Romero (1913-96) and his three sons, Celin (b. 1936), Pepe, and Angel (b. 1946), formed the first significant guitar quartet in music history. In this memoir, Pepe conveys his views on a variety of topics pertaining to the guitar, including repertoire, technique, teaching, guitar makers, concertizing and the psychology of performance. He also offers fascinating recollections of his early years in Spain, his family life, and his collaborations and friendships with leading musicians, artists and writers. Though the focus is understandably on Pepe and his immediate circle, the reader also gains insights into the sociocultural context in which he grew up, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in the wake of a ruinous civil war. The Romeros moved to Southern California in 1957, a locale that proved very conducive to the success of a quartet of Spanish guitarists and one they still call home. This book will both entertain and inform a wide variety of readers and leave a lasting and reliable record of an extraordinary musician's exceptionally rich life.

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9781648251184

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Reviews

Manuel de Falla said that in Granada he felt himself to be at the center of the world, and as we learn from this fascinating book, Pepe Romero has the gift of putting Spanish music at the center of the world. Thank you, Pepe, for making our music sound so loud and so strong. * Elena García de Paredes de Falla, President of the Fundación Archivo Manuel de Falla * In the universe of the six strings, I have had the great fortune to meet this great artist, now a close friend and one with whom I have enjoyed participating in several festivals around the world. I have been able to enrich myself by learning from his phrasing, his sensitivity, and the quality of his sound. Through this remarkable memoir, Pepe will continue to make us all fall in love with his way of understanding guitar music. * Víctor Monge (""Serranito""), flamenco guitarist * Pepe was born with an unparalleled virtuosity that has amazed the world. His insightful reflections reveal how this has allowed composers writing works for him to focus only on the music itself and not on the physical limits of the instrument and the instrumentalist. He has given everything to us disciples: his music, his technique, and his infinite kindness. * Vicente Coves, President of the European Guitar Foundation *

Author Information

WALTER AARON CLARK is Distinguished Professor of Musicology at the University of California, Riverside. PEPE ROMERO is among the most renowned classical guitarists of our time, with a long career of recordings, performances, and significant collaborations with other musicians and composers. He has taught guitar at several universities.

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