The Life and Biography Of The Iconic Spanish Classical Guitarist Andres Segovia

There are few who have come close to doing what Andres Segovia achieved on the guitar as he truly mastered the art of the Spanish classical guitar.  There is no question he lived life to the fullest while enjoying one of the most successful and accomplished careers in the history of music.  While this is a big statement to make, it is certainly deserving of someone who had such an impact on the music industry.

Andres Segovia was born in the Andalusian city of Linares, Spain on February 18, 1894 and was raised in Granada.  As many stories go, Andres was not supposed to become the talented musician he wound up to be.  His father had hoped he would follow in the footsteps and become a prosperous lawyer someday. 

Despite this, his father did want him to have as much of a cultural background as possible.  Because of this, it was his father that placed him within the realms of musical courses.  He began with lessons in piano and violin, but quickly dropped both due to a lack of interest.  What really got him going was the guitar when he heard the instrument in the home of a friend.

His family and teachers at the Granada Musical Institute were adamant that he pursue the piano or violin, but it was the guitar that Andres desired to play.  With no adequate teaching nearby, he turned to himself for guidance as he became his own teacher.

Thanks to the musical knowledge he had previously acquired with other instruments, Andres Segovia took his study of the guitar to a new level by applying his own technique.  He learned that certain piano exercises would actually strengthen his fingers for the guitar thus making him a far more competent guitarist.

 As with any skilled musician, he did have certain influences such as Francisco Tarrega.  Still, he developed his own style and technique that is still heard today.  At the time the guitar was not suitable for the stage, but he thought differently.  He felt the guitar belonged on the concert stage for everyone to enjoy. 

Despite few backing his decision, Andres Segovia felt the guitar was his calling.  He was determined to continue his studying, perfect his technique, and get the guitar on the concert stage.  Little by little he continued to tone his skills and make a name for himself.  After a short while he even had a reputation to back up his talent.

At the age of 15 he made his public debut in 1909 in Granada under the auspices of the Circulo Artistico, which is a local cultural organization.  As expected, this was the first of many with concerts in Madrid in 1912 and Barcelona in 1916 following.  He was fortunate enough to acquire a treasured guitar from the craftsman Manuel Ramirez while playing in Madrid.  He would use this guitar for many years before switching to an instrument made by Hermann Hauser of Munich in the mid-1930’s.

To this point Andres was still recognized solely in his own country, but by 1919 he was ready to hit the road and start a full-out tour.  It was in 1919 that he fled and performed in South America where he quickly became a reputable name.  There were a number of different concerts and engagements that would keep him from Europe until 1923.
Surprisingly, there were still skeptics out there who were not familiar with the idea of classical guitar and did not follow Segovia.  One such skeptic was a Times critic who actually became a devoted follower after hearing him play at his London debut.  This was the type of impact he had on people as he frequently left viewers in awe. 

When first starting out, every musician has those special moments that are forever cherished.  One of the most important days of Segovia’s beginning years came at his Paris debut in April 1924.  Some of the musical celebrities that were in attendance at the Conservatory included the likes of Paul Dukas, Manuel Dc Falla and Madam Debusy.  He was an instant hit with fellow musicians and a large crowd overwhelmed with delight from his impeccable performance.

Following the successful debut in Paris he performed in Berlin with the same result.  With numerous concerts and successful debuts, Segovia was really beginning to flourish.  His reputation quickly became international with people talking all over the world about the magnificent Spanish classical guitarist.

Something that did hinder his spread was the limited repertoire that he faced during the early years of his career.  He found himself constantly transcribing pieces from other instruments which took a great deal of time and effort on his part.  He often times referred to Renaissance and Baroque pieces that were composed for lute or Spanish vihuela.

Finally, in Germany he found music that was more suitable for the guitar thanks to the lute works of Sylvius Leopold Weiss.  Still, he continued to look for other applicable music for the guitar.  This is when he found a group of Back’s works that were perfect for the guitar.  He believed a number of Bach’s pieces were written for lute and later transcribed by him for other instruments.  It was these pieces that really catapulted Segovia’s career and style he would go on to develop.

There is no question that an iconic figure can help increase the popularity in just about anything.  This is precisely what happened as Segovia’s name alone was enough to raise the interest of the guitar.  People recognized the passion, enjoyment and thrill Segovia expressed every time he touched the guitar.  These were the kinds of emotions others wanted to experience thus leading to more and more people picking up the instrument.

When first beginning his career, the guitar was nothing more than an overlooked instrument that did not belong on the stage.  By the time he was a recognizable name internationally, the guitar was one of the most studied and popular instruments in the world.

It did not take long for other composers to pick up on the popularity of the guitar.  Many others began to try out the guitar and include this into their repertoire.  What separated Segovia from the rest is that few actually understood the instrument and how to work it.  A lot of composers actually depended on Segovia for assistance and support.

Some of the earlier composers who converted to the guitar included Mario Cstelnuovo, Tedesco and Alfred Casella.  Other composers who later developed the instrument included Turina, Torroba, De Falla, Tansman, Ponce and Villa-Lobos. 

There was no doubt that Segovia had made a name for himself at this point, but he still had not performed in America.  It was highly recognized violinist Fritz Kreisler that recommended he make way to the great country of the U.S.  His first scheduled musical appearance was a bit out of the ordinary to say the least.

Segovia often enjoyed giving private performances, which is exactly what happened with his first musical performance in the states.  It actually occurred in the home of three devotees in Proctor, Massachusetts.  He later appeared at Town Hall in New York City in January 1928 where he wowed the audience and critics.

Olin Downes from the New York Times raved about the performance on that date.  He concluded that Segovia belonged with the small group of elite musicians.  He went on to say “he draws the tone colors of a half a dozen instruments from the one he plays.  He has extraordinary command of nuances and seems to discover whole planes of sonority.”

His reputation quickly grew in the states following his debut in New York City.  This concert brought rise to five other concerts in New York City that were all sold out.  From there, he continued to tour around the country performing in 25 other cities.  Before completing the tour critics were already comparing him with Kreisler, Casals and Paderewski.

Andres Segovia really enjoyed touring the United States and continued to do so for many years.  In fact, he would tour that states for the next ten years annually while creating a true following from devoted fans.

Unfortunately, he was forced to give up his home in Spain in 1936 due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.  This sent him from place to place where he toured extensively in Central and South America.  Following a five year absence, he finally returned to the United States in 1943.  However, because of the long delay since his last appearance he found himself having to renew his popularity. 

Fortunately, his skills remained at the elite level they were before.  It did not take long for Segovia to flourish to the top thanks to his talent and the television, which introduced him to a wider audience.  He continued to tour for many years while releasing numerous records and tracks. 

Not only did he enjoy playing, but teaching was another passion of his.  He had several pupils and taught the likes of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and the Academy Chigi in Siena.  His popularity brought rise to the development and addition of the guitar being a part of the curriculum at music schools in Madrid, Barcelona, Florence and London.

The father of a son and daughter, Andres Segovia continued to perform into his old age living in semi-retirement during his 70s and 80s.  He died of a heart attack in Madrid at the age of 94.  He was buried at Casa Museo de Linares in Andalusia.  He will forever be remembered for his expressive performances and everything he did to develop and bring rise in popularity for the guitar.