Thread: Who am I and what am I playing

Originally Posted by Iain

I doubt that anyone is going to get this, Classical Gas was Mason Williams and, no, it's not him.
This Spanish Gentleman is Mr Narciso Yepes who is considered the master of the Vihuela (guitar body with 7 to 12 strings).

Hes not playing a Vihuela....see my earlier post for specs of the guitar hes playing. Im not sure if he actually plays alot of Vihuela but he certainly has played alot of vihuela music transposed for the guitar.

My late classical guitar teacher was a student of one of Yepes' pupils and was heavily influenced by his technique.....my teacher even played a Matsuoka 10 string.

Iain, I see youre in Gippoland......if you get your binocluars out you might just be able to see me parked off the coast on Esso's Flounder Platform. Im up on the third level of the accomodation on the jackup rig parked next to the platform.

Saturday, May 3 , 1997

Narciso Yepes, the great master of spanish guitar dies in his hometown.

A short biography of Narciso Yepes:
Born in Lorca (Murcia). November 14, 1927.
He received his first guitar when he was only four years old.
Nine years later Yepes started his classical music studies at the Valencia Conservatory. He played with flamenco singers to improve his technique and sense of rhythm. Together with de Falla, he is regarded as the classical artist most connected with the flamenco world.



1947. His performance of the Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez brings him renown and prestige from critics and public alike.

1948. He performs with great success in Geneva (Switzerland), and after that he has dozens of solo tours.

1952. Composes and plays the music for the film score of "Forbidden Games" directed by René Clement (this film was chosen as best film of the year at the Cannes festival).




1964. Narciso Yepes creates the ten string guitar. He always worked to recover unpublished old music scores and published more than six thousand of them.


1993. Narciso Yepes limits his public appearances due to illness. He gives his last concert in 1996, in Santander (Spain). 1996

I stand corrected on the Vihuela, I think I know who your teacher was and I can't recall his name.

I studied with Sue Ellis and attained AMEB 8 on guitar, I also hadone lesson with the late Mr Segovia in the 60's and unfortunately attended a John Williams master class.

In the 70's I did a short series for a TV network on the history of classical guitar but it was never accepted.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Iain, I see youre in Gippoland......if you get your binocluars out you might just be able to see me parked off the coast on Esso's Flounder Platform. Im up on the third level of the accomodation on the jackup rig parked next to the platform.

I'm waving now, can you see me?

Originally Posted by Iain

I'm waving now, can you see me?

Crane booms in the way....oh hang on..yes there you are.

Originally Posted by Iain

I stand corrected on the Vihuela, I think I know who your teacher was and I can't recall his name.

I studied with Sue Ellis and attained AMEB 8 on guitar, I also hadone lesson with the late Mr Segovia in the 60's and unfortunately attended a John Williams master class.

In the 70's I did a short series for a TV network on the history of classical guitar but it was never accepted.

My teacher was Peter Hastings....lived in Christchurch NZ when I was taking lessons in the early 80's but hed spent some time in Australia and was tutored by one of Yepe's pupils...dont know that persons name unfortunately. Peter was a violin player by trade and played with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra before developing a passion for the guitar. He was a brilliant very patient teacher and for $5 I got a 2 hour lesson and usually lunch thrown in for free. I was saddened to learn that he died of cancer after I left NZ to settle in Oz.

I dont play guitar a whole lot these days but I do spend a fair bit of my time away from work building guitars. Pics of my latest effort were posted earlier on this year.

Interesting to note your comments on Segovia....my teacher wasnt a great fan of him either.