Students of Segovia | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast
Andrés Segovia was born on February 21, 1893. To mark his 130th birthday, we spoke with three contemporary guitarists who each studied with the Maestro: Lily Afshar, Liona Boyd, and Michael Chapdelaine. Each of our guests shares their unique (or infamous) experience and how playing for Segovia when they were students impacts the way they see music today.
Support the show:
- Listen to Part 2 on Patreon, where Liona Boyd and Michael Chapdelaine debate what Segovia’s legacy will be in another hundred years.
- Make a one-time donation on PayPal
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Additional resources:
- Learn more about Lily Afshar at her website and read her “Letter from Tehran” here.
- Learn more about Liona Boyd at her website and read about the ups and downs of her journey with focal dystonia.
- Learn more about Michael Chapdelaine at his website and check out his “Steel-String Guitarist’s Introduction to Nylon-String Techniques and Repertoire” and video lesson on how to play the classical guitar standard “Romanza.”
- From the Classical Guitar magazine archive, a 17-part centenary celebration of Segovia.
The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.
This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle and Blair Jackson, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.
The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:
- Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
- Editor: Adam Perlmutter
- Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
- Senior Editor: Blair Jackson
- Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
- Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
- Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
- Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez
Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.
I was fortunate enough to have seen Segovia in Seattle in perhaps his final concert tour of the US. He was clearly showing the effects of aging. At one point he just stopped playing unexpectedly. After an extended delay, he was again able to continue. He seemed quite embarrassed, but the audience reaction was quite the opposite. He received a standing ovation for the performance and for all he had given to promote and teach the classic guitar over his lifetime.
Andrea Segovia was the reason I took up classical guitar at the age of 13. I bought one of his albums, listening to it every day.
Just a few years ago, many years since ai began, I was thrilled to visit Segovia, Spain and I asked if it was in fact names after him. Several people I asked had never heard of him!
I am wondering if any Segovia fans know about the 6 hour radio broadcast that was done, I think in the 1980’s, and if it might be available on cd.