The Segovia Legacy

Considered the "father" of classical guitar, the late Andres Segovia, a master musician, is profiled in this loving tribute to the man and his legacy. Combining historical footage of Segovia in concert and teaching students of the guitar, with interviews from contemporaries and aficionados (such as Queen Sofia of Spain and commentator Hugh Downs), The Segovia Legacy offers a portrait that is, by turns, warm, inspiring, and often devilishly funny. At the age of 16, Segovia gave his first concert in Granada, and "decided to become the apostle of the guitar." Although the music world was, at first, skeptical over the idea of Bach being adapted to the guitar, acceptance of Segovia grew exponentially over the course of the century (so that, today, classical guitar is something we take for granted). Often on the road, Segovia played in capitals all over the globe, and continued playing in public nearly up until his death at the age of 94 in 1987. Testaments from his widow, and from contemporary classical guitarist Eliot Fisk (who calls all classical guitar playing "a footnote to Segovia") give us a glimpse of both Segovia the person and Segovia the teacher. As for his teaching, Beatle George Harrison once called Segovia "the daddy of us all," to which Segovia, who intensely hated electric guitar, responded "they're not even my illegitimate children." An excellent choice for public libraries. Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)