Ars Longa, Vita Brevis...

by Praxiteles
(Washington)

Francisco Tárrega inspired more people than just me me. Segovia most likely played guitar rather than the violin because of him. Though I don't think anyone ever asked him his influences on the instrument.

His transcription of Isaac Albéniz's "Asturias, Leyenda" is by far my favourite of his contributions to the guitar.

His tremolo study "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" is brilliant, not only because of it's beautiful simplicity, but because it's just so damn hard on the hand.

People tend to forget about this guy when they're a guitard (guitar retard for all of you who couldn't deduce that).

Obviously I like Segovia. He plays more like he's caressing the guitar than beating the hell out of it.

Almost like having sex with it (as some people say for Vai, Satriani, Hendrix, and the like).

This guy's one of the main reasons modern Classical guitar (and really guitar driven music in general) exists today.

He took it and basically made the world see that that the guitar wasn't just a parlor instrument comparable only to the likes of the lute (don't get me wrong, I love lutes).

I love all his arrangements, his interpretations and all of his original compositions. The way he plays is just so much more smooth than really any guitar playing (the only electric guitar tone I even dare to compare with his playing is Eric Johnson's. It's just as sexy as Segovia's playing).

And John Williams. I really like this guy even though he does beat the hell out of his guitar (most of the time).

He plays even better than the guy I used to have in his place (Parkening, I still like him. I just don't think he's anything like Williams).

I really got into him when I bought Sky's first, second, and third albums. When I found out how he arranged some of the tunes, he really got my attention.

Plus, Sky's just an amazing band.