Guitarist Segovia's remains laid to rest in his hometown

AP/YahooNews ^ | 6/3/02 | staff

[ppaul]

LINARES, Spain - Fifteen years after his death, master classical guitarist Andres Segovia finally was brought back to his hometown as he wished.

Segovia's remains were exhumed from the Madrid cemetery where he originally was buried and brought to Linares in Jaen province, the heart of Spain's olive-growing region.

Segovia, widely considered the greatest classical guitarist of the 20th century, died in 1987 at the age of 94. He is credited with elevating the guitar from a lowly bar instrument to one played on classical concert stages around the world, garnering as much respect as the violin or piano.

Segovia once said one of the goals of his musical career was "to separate the guitar from mindless, folklore-type entertainment."

Segovia's widow, Emilia, avoided moving his body to Linares, even though it was his wish, until a proper resting place was prepared, town hall officials said.

A 16th-century palace has been refurbished to house the musician's remains and a museum dedicated to his life and work.

A wake was scheduled for Monday night with a burial on Tuesday.

Emilia de Segovia led the funeral cortege that left Madrid Monday. Awaiting in Linares was 32-year-old Carlos Segovia, the only survivor among Segovia's four children.

The Segovia museum will feature sheet music written by Segovia, suits he wore while performing, medals he won and a favorite guitar nicknamed "La Nina," or little girl.

Link to article HERE.

[bluesagewoman]

This is my all-time favorite musician. This guy was fantastic. Especially his baroque pieces.

[LiteKeeper]

DITTO !

[VOA]

This is my all-time favorite musician.

He was "Un-Plugged" before it was cool.

He was the greatest...and I love the successors like John Williams.

[Lancey Howard]

I was once in line to check into the campus hotel at the University of Massachusetts (c. 1978) and I was in line behind an older, shorter man, built like a fire-hydrant and wearing a black overcoat and black fedora. He didn't exactly fit in on the college campus. So he registered and then walked over to pick up his suitcase and a guitar case. (Actually, the guy looked like a gangster from 1929.) When I walked up to the desk to register I asked the young lady who that last guy was. She said she didn't know and flipped the book around so I could read the name. It was Julian Bream, who was probably the heir to Segovia's title as world's greatest classical guitarist. My lone "brush with greatness", LOL!

[mikeIII]

I thoroughly enjoy John Williams, who does see himself as somewhat of a successor, but Julian Bream is probably more the one carry this mantle.

[Clemenza]

Bump for one of the great musical interpreters of the twentieth century. When they used to describe the guitar as a "portable orchestra" they cleraly had Andres Segovia in mind.

[glasseye]

And Al Di Meola?

[ricer1]

Wow... thanks for this news post.

Back in 1986 I got his autograph on a book he authored on guitar technique. He came to Dallas to perform, and what a performance it was... Geez, I'll always remember that.

[mikeIII]

I agree! I saw him at one of his last concerts. He was very frail and had to be helped on to the stage, with someone else carrying the guitar for him. But once he started playing he was as vibrant as ever. At the end, the entire audience got all emotional in their ovation, realizing perhaps that it was their last chance.

[Lancey Howard]

And Al Di Meola?

Al is a far better guitarist than Mark Farner. Easy.

[VOA]

...Julian Bream is probably more the one carry this mantle.

I'm afraid that I only got exposed to Williams and Christopher Parkening in
my Oklahoma backwater years ago...
but it is my understanding that Bream is the consensus successor.
(reminds me I should get some of his recordings when I have a few spare dollars...)

[texasbluebell]

He was an incredible musician. I had the great opportunity to hear him play in concert in the late 60's, unforgettable!

[bluesagewoman]

Christopher Parkening is fantastic, too. Missed seeing him in concert last year...Cry, cry... but, Segovia will always remain my favorite. His technique is distinctive and I can usually pick it out from other artists. Glad to see we have FReepers with good taste...I remember when they were arguing over who the best guitarist ever when George Harrison died. Not really the same class!

[VOA]

I remember when they were arguing over who the best guitarist ever when George
Harrison died. Not really the same class!

I'm pretty eclectic..."It's all good"
(Even if I can appreciate the "high-brow" or "elitist" approach to the more
technically demanding styles of music.)

I think the reason I stumbled on to John Williams first was the song that I think was called
"The Love Theme" from "The Deer Hunter".
That song takes my breath away every time I hear it.

I think it was originally titled something like "Walking Stick" and done by
Weissburg (?).

Just the kind of music that can make even "real men" cry at it's elemental beauty.

(OK, that's as pretentious and touch-feely as this Okie will get...)

[bluesagewoman]

Well, I like Mason Williams, too. His "Sunflower" and "Shady Dell" are wonderful, and "Classical Gas" gives me goose-bumps. There is room for all kinds of music for all of us. And, you are right, apples and oranges applies to guitarists, too. Segovia just has my heart.

[mikeIII]

John Williams' guitar composition of the Deer Hunter was originally Cavatina, I think!

[VOA]

John Williams' guitar composition of the Deer Hunter was originally Cavatina, I think!

Erg...maybe my brain had a short...the name "Cavatina" is sounding familiar...

Anyway, I'll just say that theme from The Deer Hunter is one of my personal
classical guitar favorites.

[VOA]

John Williams' guitar composition of the Deer Hunter was originally Cavatina, I think!

Thank you for pushing me a bit...my memory was defective, but not totally off the mark.

Thanks to the magic of amazon.com and google.com, I was able to find the info below at:

http://plum.cream.org/williams/biog2.htm

In 1969, (John) Williams met film composer and arranger Stanley Myers, who was working
on the score of the film "The Walking Stick". Myers played a short piece on the
piano, which he was thinking of using as one of the motifs for the film's score,
but on hearing the three bars, John immediately became excited and encouraged Myers to
develop the theme, not only for the purposes of the film, but as a guitar tune.

Myers took the advice, developed the tune and invited Williams to play it on the
movie's soundtrack. The film isn't notable, and the piece of music didn't become
famous for another decade, when it was re-used for another film. The later film
was The Deer Hunter, and the piece of music: Cavatina... Since that time,
Williams and the piece have been inextricably linked, an association of which he
is evidently proud, having recorded it on no less than four separate occasions.

LOL! I guess for an Okie, my musical tastes must not all that crude...if I fell for
a song that seems to have caught John Williams' fancy as well!

[mikeIII]

Very good, VOA! I wasn't aware of "The Walking Stick" connection! You're right this is certainly a wonderful piece and Williams' guitar arrangement is fantastic.