Narciso Yepes plays Barrios' La Catedral

[gigwalnutz1]

This is my favorite interpretation of this piece! I've heard many others, but this is it. So clear and precise of tempo!

[sergiomxdf]

I am realy accustomed to the sound of Williams for this piece, but I need this record at home... I need to hear every note of the Maestro Yepes playing the Maestro Barrios.

Estoy realmente acostumbrado al sonido de Williams para esta pieza, pero Necesito este disco en casa... necesito oir cada nota del Maestro Yepes interpretando al Maestro Barrios.

[unespanol93]

BARRRIOS

[TheEdgarvarese12]

this is very good interpretation, but I personally prefer more firy with more rubatos

[GeorgeGreekTrucker]

Wow!! Fantastic.

All these years I avoided listening to this piece because the guitarists let too many little phrases go unheard or to put it better the little phrases that Narciso Yepes plays so emphatically and so clear are just hard to distinguish in other guitarist's muddled performances.

I bought the Nächte im Spanischen Gärten on cassette in 1981 and that was it!

The world never looked the same again.

Then I saw him play live in Berlin the next year.

MAGNIFICENT.

Music at its best.

[jamescwolf]

I saw him in 1983 in Toronto.....he was awesome! He played his 10 string guitar. He played the Bach chacone among other things. He was great. Fully confident, flashy in places, and truly artistic. A master of the craft.

[florafox]

the four additional bass strings are kind of "aliquot strings", they function like the indian "drone sound" . According to the physic of harmonics the tuning of a guitar has too much "A" "E" or "D" with its harmonics. Yepes is able to play in keys like Eb or Bb or Ab with full sound. The technique of playing is not more difficult than in " regular" guitar playing.

[yepesfan07]

10 string guitars are hard to play especialy when you're used to the regular 6, i played a 10 str gtr once, and my god, they sound so nice, but grr.. jose ramirez III... $2500 :( one day, one day i'll get one, :)

[drewdavis58]

@yepesfan07 I like your ambition. There are dozens of 10 string guitars tucked away in Narciso's house. There was a hope that these guitars could be loaned out or rented to aspiring guitarists. Some have been sold. If you are seriously interested, let me know. Although patience is required, there are possibilities.

[emeraldomusik]

@yepesfan07 with the exception of the last chord Yepes plays 6 strings here. but he does it perfectly. The 4 bass strings have the function of "aliquot strings" or sympathetic strings. This improves the sound by adding more harmonics . Yepes is a true master.

[diegoarboli]

@emeraldomusik I really admire Yepes´ technique, and he does have ups and downs in interpretation, but of course, more ups. For example, I don´t like at all his intepretation of Villa-Lobos´ 5 preludes, but he has a magnificent interpretation of his Concierto (the one Villa-Lobos dedicated to Segovia) and Albeniz´ pieces of Suite Iberia.

[diegoarboli]

@emeraldomusik I asked about the tuning because I heard Luca Pianca play, like noone else, Bach´s Fugue BVW 1000, in G minor, and there is where I heard the note G (one octave lower from the lowest G in classical guitar), which is why I wondered about the lowest note in a 10-string classical guitar.

[diegoarboli]

@yepesfan07 What is the lowest note you can get from a 10 string guitar? is it like the lute? a G?

[tenstringguitarINFO]

@diegoarboli The lowest note you can get on a lute depends on the type of lute and the tuning, which was still nominal in the baroque period, not actual. That is, the baroque lute was most often tuned to a D-minor chord in name, but in actuality the pitches varied higher and lower than what we think of today as an "actual" D. The 11 course baroque lute went down nominally to C2 (an octave below the 6-string guitar's lowest C). So does Yepes's 10-string guitar, when in its standard tuning.

[abby161919]

god bless you master Narciso.

[ovadem]

genial maestro

[drewdavis58]

Thank you for pointing that out: the big sound, the strong right hand. The soft, piano sound is over-used by some guitarists IMO. I like to say Yepes played for big audiences in big concert halls all over this big world, on a big guitar with a big technique. He played for the little guy in the farthest seat.

I envy you; I never met the maestro nor saw him play. I've seen Bream, Williams and Barrueco but not Yepes!

[drewdavis58]

Sorry, but are you saying the piece is too heavy or the style? I suppose you mean Yepes' style; he does insist on bringing out all the notes while keeping a tight beat - maybe that is what you find "too heavy"!? A very subjective arguement; you are welcome to it. Maybe you've got a point since I don't think he played this or Barrios often.

[freemantemani]

i dont no what pavanacapricho whants it very beautiful

[drewdavis58]

Thank you! I heartily agree. I find it strange that such an accomplished guitarist could mis-understand Yepes so completely.

[pavanacapricho]

I cannot resist...: do you really like that?

Yepes by sure was an important guitarrist and technical innovator. ..many wonderfull recordings by him: Rodrigo, Ohana, Asencio, etc. but this here is horrible:

1.mov. dragging without context.

2. cold, mecanic, without grace -elegance -atmosphere, absolutly no relation to the music just moving his fingers. It sounds like a pupil who has practised well. With all respect: a propper sound and clean playing by far cannot be a criterion in this Liga!

[drewdavis58]

Thanks for the respect you pay and so sorry this 'Catedral' does not please you; there is no accounting for taste. However, I cannot agree with your criticism -  IMO, the fact that Yepes rigorously respects the partition, something that seems to bother many a guitarist, allows for the full expression of the emotions Barrios intended. You say it drags, but I find this tempo allows me to best appreciate the resonance of the contrapuntal voices.

[danyluis]

Yepes' sonority is simply celestial.  That ten-string guitar was absolutely amazing. And only a true master could tame it like he did.

I really enjoyed this version.

Bravo!

[drewdavis58]

I agree; the resonance is awesome. It is a pity he did not record all three movements.

[ARANJUEZCM]

Thank you for posting this precious video, especially when Narciso Yepes is no longer with us.

[drewdavis58]

You are very welcome; it is a pleasure to share. Long live Narciso Yepes - through his music!

[Novum07]

Great Yepes is great!! Listen Berta Rojas's version for "Jha che valle" the video is "Berta Rojas ejecutando la guitarra de Barrios" is just beautiful!!

[drewdavis58]

Tell me, chiquito, what it is you don't like; everything here is pretty near perfect, IMO. Estas Segovista? You are Mexican and yet prefer John Williams to Yepes? That's weird, but okay. However, negative commentary with NO justification will not stand. Ignorant little newbie troll!

[GinoTheSinner]

hearing this makes me wanna grow out my RH nails again

[rmroadesso]

Qualquer musica é maravilhosa quando tocada por Yepes. Um mágico do violão.

[DavidRodolfoTP]

Narciso Yepes o John Williamas, ambas versiones son excelentes.

Aguante Agustín Barrios

[nikosz66]

Absolutely beatifully played by the Maestro...crystal clear , senstive & with the right tempo performance....

Thanks for posting.

[jllobet]

I didn't know Yepes recorded Barrios' music until now, thank you for sharing, beautiful interpretation!

[philomelodia]

The Andante Religioso was exquisite! I love the way he sustained the beginning chords. Almost, you could hear the organ Barrios sought to imitate with these notes. It was very close to the way the composer himself played it.  I'm a devoted Barrios fan and I thank you for posting this since I didn't know El Maestro Narciso Yepes recorded his work.

[drewdavis58]

You are welcome! Thank you for such good commentary with which I totally agree! The 4 extra strings + Yepes' technique do bring out the different voices well.

[MusicPredominates]

@philomelodia : Excellent comment in both analysis and reflection.

[BFGUITAR]

La Catedral was first written without the preludio. It was in fact written many years later as an addition to the piece.

[JulesMX9]

Hi, I used the audio from your video, added it a little more volume and did another video with slides.

I hope you don´t mind

Saludos

[drewdavis58]

Ola, I like the video you made but what is that last image? It doesn't look like a cathedral.... Anyways, long live Narciso Yepes

Cheers

[JulesMX9]

The last image is St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.

[drewdavis58]

Ah, now I understand! Please excuse my ignorance...

[lockven]

As usual, Yepes´ rendition is so far away from the rest...

[goyroyni]

Indeed... I love Yepes bold, dark renditions. Every note oozes musical intelligence. His Bach especially is one of a kind.

[fesierra]

Is this recording available somewhere?

I'd be grateful to know

[drewdavis58]

To whom it may concern:

As far as I know, this title is not available since Zaphiro Records is long gone, but I hope to obtain the right to create cd's or dvd's with this music. If and when that happens, I'll make it known.

Until then...

[poupee58]

Thank you again Drew Davis for posting this and a big thank you to the late great Narciso Yepes for this majestic performance ,the last chord with extra-low bass note is sheer magic.Probably the best Catedral .

[poupee58]

Thank you so much for posting this ,Beautiful performance.