Andrés Segovia - (1893 to 1987) Andres Segovia: In Portrait

Segovia is credited as being the man that changed classical guitar. He brought it to the forefront of classical music in the modern era. Classical guitar per se didn't really exist before him. It was considered a minor instrument and more suited to small venues and gypsy like music. He devoted his life to elevating the guitar as a classical instrument as deserving as the piano and violin.

Over the decades he worked with Luthiers to make dramatic improvements in the design of the guitar. In particular was his desire to make it louder so it could be played in larger settings.

This site has another, more in-depth article about Segovia including a list of CD's Andres Segovia

Check out the Wikikpedia article on Andres Segovia

Julian Bream (born 1933)

Bream has had a long career as a classical guitarist. He began playing guitar at the age of 5 and by the age of 12 he was considered a child prodigy. He has advanced the classical guitar in a respect that few ever have done -Through the media of radio and television.

The DVD video profile Julian Bream: My Life In Music, released in 2003, contains three hours of interview and performance. It is considered by some to be the finest film contribution ever to the classic guitar."

Another extremely important work to the world of classical guitar is Bream's video Guitarra! A Musical Journey Through Spain

Product Description from amazon.com
This musical journey through Spain with Julian Bream traces the evolution of the Spanish guitar from 1500 to the present. Bream tours and performs in some of Spain's most magnificent locations including Seville, Toledo, Madrid and Barcelona. This is the most complete video ever produced on the history of the Spanish guitar. Includes a bonus performance of Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez."

Check out the Wikipedia Article to learn more about Julian Bream

Francisco Tarrega- Considered to be the father of modern classical guitar and the composer of one of the most famous spanish classical/spanish guitar pieces (Recuerdos de la Alhambra) Read about him and watch a video of Recuerdos. He is also the composer of the famous Nokia ringtone. Well, he didn't compose it for nokia! But nokia did take three measures of his Gran Vals for their now famous ringtone. Francisco Tarrega

John Williams - Is one of the contemporary masters of the classical guitar. Read more about him, his music and his life: John Williams Classical Guitar

Notes: He is quoted as saying that Barrios is the greatest composer of guitar music of all time.

Fernando Sor was a 19th Century guitarist and composer. He was often called the "Beethoven of the Guitar" read about his interesting life here. I also have samples of his work, some videos and downloads of his famous Method for the Guitar - Fernando Sor

Matteo Carcassi: A Profile in Classical Guitar - An article and resources about Matteo Carcassi. I also have a composition of his that I play and you can listen to. There are also free pdf's of a few of his works if you want to play them; and resources to books and sheet music by him. I also have a selection of MP3 Downloads of his work available through amazon.com. You can download and listen to his works

Julian Bream: A Profile in Classical Guitar - An article and resources about Bream who is one of the most influential classical guitarists of the 20th Century. Did you know that he has won four grammys?

Coming:

• Ferdinando Carulli
• Mauro Giuliani
• Joaquin Rodrigo
• Heitor Villa-Lobos
• Christopher Parkening

The Classical Guitar: Its Evolution, Players and Personalities Since 1800 (Book)

We proudly present the fifth edition of Maurice J. Summerfield's highly acclaimed ultimate reference book on the classical guitar. This brand new book features all the original biographical entries updated with new photographs where applicable, plus 100 new biographical entries in the players, composers and makers section - for a total of over 485. This new edition gives the reader a full and clear picture of the classical guitar's development since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Also included are informative sections on composers, scholars, flamenco guitarists and guitar makers. The book's collection of several hundred photographs is the most complete to be published in one volume. There are extensive listings of the most important classical guitar recordings. The final section, Sources of Supply, guides readers to where they can obtain the books, recordings, music and magazines listed in the book. Without a doubt, this new edition will be the essential work of reference on the subject of classical guitar for years to come!"My sincere congratulations to Maurice Summerfield."- Andres Segovia