Narciso Yepes plays Barrios' La Catedral

courtesy of Zafiro Records, Madrid

[@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.

[@goyroyni]

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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@drewdavis58]

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

[@nikosz66]

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

[@poupee58]

Thank you so much for posting this ,Beautiful performance.

[@rmroadesso]

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

[@terrymarshall6664]

Perfectly beautiful!

[@BFGUITAR]

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

[@Rogeliorock2]

Agustin Barrios Mangore es la clave perfecta junto con Narciso Yepes. sin palabras.

[@joseluiscolombreshernandez7450]

Es una obra tan hermoza que hace sentir en lo mas profundo del corazon. dr jose luis colombres Puebla Mexico

[@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.

[@arturozeballos1]

Un grande. abarco todo los estilos.

[@alicekarapetian5231]

fantastic , I love his plying, wow

[@robertoalexandre4250]

I imagine this is a later recording from the 80s by Yepes and that Barrios´ music had already been making a come-back since Williams´ recording during the late 70s. Here in Brazil, guitarrist Geraldo Ribeiro had already recorded Barrios´ music in the 60s before anyone hardly even knew about it (there were also other Brazilian guitarrists whose names I don´t recall that recorded and played Barrios back then too). It´s a pity the Prelude-Saudade isn´t included, but the second movement sounds absolutely orquestral in Yepes´ hands and the ensuing fast movement is also deftly played. Good recording quality which highlights the beautiful ressonance of the guitar and Yepes´ exceptional tone quality. This could hardly have been a difficult piece for him, given his repertoire which spanned the whole of the guitar as well as transcriptions and new modern works. But seeing Yepes record Barrios is indeed a hommage that a Spaniard gave to the Paraguyan genius as Segovia simply ignored the latter´s music as if it didn´t exist (obviously, Segovia was interested in pushing Ponce as his Latin American composer, but an honest word - and Segovia did meet Barrios and know at least some of his music - would not have made Segovia any less and would have helped promote Barrios´ music which was to come out sooner or later, despite Segovia.

[@antoniobuys6536]

I appreciated this information, thank you for sharing.

[@Soytu19]

Segovia ignored Barrios because he represented the main problem for everything he was trying to achieve: to create music for the guitar from non-guitarist composers, serious composers. This is his mai legacy and why he was important. Segovia, like Yepes, was first a musician and then a guitarist. Barrios was first a guitarist and then a musician and only a composer for the guitar, and this is imbodied in his music; many times lacking in structure and inner form, presenting an improvisational romantic style. Segovia was not interested in this, he wanted to overcome the romantic guitar, and Barrios embodied everything he didnt want. Neither were Yepes or Bream, both of them searching for bringing the joy of logic and estructure to the guitar. The only one of these three giant masters to record Barrios was Yepes, and he didnt even record the whole La Catedral. Bream played it in concerts sometimes, but never recorded it. Some people wonder why Segovia, Bream and Yepes never payed the attention that some people feel deserves Barrios. Well.. this is the answer.

[@keithfisher83]

Both Segovia and Yepes so overrated 🙄. They were/are good but seriously overrated. David Russell and John Williams in my opinion 🤜🤛

[@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!!

[@jeanpierresantini9364]

Du grand art c est vraiment magnifique la composition de barrios l interprétation de yepes j adooooooore

[@robinterkzer8128]

A great master of the guitar ! xxxxxxx

[@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!

[@raffitorossian6432]

ALWAYS EXCELLENT..........A MONSTER GENIUS.......!

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

El Gran Maestro Narciso Yepes!!!!

[@drewdavis58]

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

[@bmf0003]

I wish the prelude was included :( Still, though this is enjoyable; I never get tired of listening to this piece.

[@rubenarriola4301]

Que bárbaro estos guitarristas, no sabés con cual quedarte. Yepes, J. Williams, Segovia ni hablar. Pero Barrios fue grande. Eximio guitarrista y gran compositor

[@user-vb4my2vc2x]

きっと私がこの曲を初めて聴いたのはイエペスさんのご演奏だったと思います。高校生の頃だったか。今は👴さんです。最初からこんな素敵な演奏者、演奏と出会ったなんてハッピーでした。イエペスさんの禁じられた遊びの演奏を聴いて、これを弾きたいと思って練習。弾けるようになってレパートリーの一つに。映画のバック音楽にギターは最高の楽器だな、とそのころ思ってました。それから別の道を歩み出し、今日に至ってます。 今ではイエペスさんのように、また更に申し分のない女性のギター演奏者がこの日本に存在していること、ギター界の明るい未来を感じてます。ギター一本で名画のバッグミュージックをなされるそのような女流ギタリストが登場なされたらどんなにステキでしょう。演奏と共に演技をなされるスターがあらわれたらイイですね。ギターの美はダイヤモンドを初め数え切れないほどの種類の宝石がちりばめられてますね。このギターを手にとって数々の名曲、未だ演奏されてない曲、また新たに創作された(後世にのこされるような)作品を演奏され、映像化されたらイイですね。 いま、このイエペスが広島の平和公園で演奏された禁じられた遊びの響き、世界平和への篤き祈り、ギター演奏を通しての音楽、芸術、演奏活動には国境の壁、隔ての鉄の壁が、存在していないこと、壁をうち壊す力が音楽にあることを改めて感じました。今、天国でどんな曲を弾いておられるのかな。🇺🇦ウクライナ、🇷🇺ロシアの、また全世界の平和を求めて、祈り、演奏しておらるのでしょうか。イエペスさんの大阪公演での楽屋での握手、その繊細な手の感じを忘れません。 演奏動画を観ながら思い出しました。アリガトウ！！ John Poppy 🕊️⛪🥀

[@user-vxymoqm]

10弦の大聖堂は初めてです。晩年の演奏 と思います。 イエペスさんはどうしても録音に遺したかったんでしょう。 スペイン人がバリオスを演奏するにはためらいがあるのかもしれません。 イエペスさんらしい演奏だと思います。

[@MrGatodg]

maestro!

[@user-jd7vj4ib3c]

Отличное понимание вещи. Прекрасное изложение.

[@sanook37]

イエペスはバリオスのイメージが無かったのですが、さすがに「大聖堂」は弾いていたのですね。 自分にとって、このイエペス的な音とこの曲がこんなにも格調高くマッチしているとは今更ながら驚きです。欲を言えば1楽章から聴きたかったですが。

[@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!

[@GinoTheSinner]

hearing this makes me wanna grow out my RH nails again

[@drewdavis58]

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

[@JulesMX9]

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

[@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...

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@MusicPredominates]

@philomelodia : Excellent comment in both analysis and reflection.

[@andrewteixeira7117]

Does anyone know where I can find this on CD or Vinyl?

[@freemantemani]

i dont no what pavanacapricho whants it very beautiful

[@diegoarboli]

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

[@drewdavis58]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@ES-gh8eo]

La primera parte ? Alguien ?

[@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, :)

[@Soytu19]

So this is the only recording he made of Barrios?

[@vitapreclik5468]

Not so fast, but beautiful tone, excellent technick, every tone is nice

[@unespanol93]

BARRRIOS

[@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.

[@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.

[@RobertoMartinez-uv4nx]

Un gran Maestro, sin duda. Pero hay varias versiones mejores.

[@lockven]

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

[@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!

[@angelodinunzio1861]

La mejor versión es la de el maestro Alirio Diaz