Eliot Fisk & Paco Peña: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Eliot Fisk looks like the happiest man on the planet. Watch that face as he plays guitar. Between performing music by J.S. Bach and partnering with the world's best flamenco guitarist, Paco Peña, Fisk can barely control his joy. I find his exuberance and their performance undeniably brilliant, inspiring and so completely universal.
The repertoire here ranges from Baroque compositions by Bach and Domenico Scarlatti to present-day flamenco. And what happens when these two master players get together is a mix of meticulous and improvised, with Fisk leaning toward the former and Peña toward the latter.
Fisk was a student - in fact, the last student - of the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia. Peña was born in Spain and is a composer in addition to being a gifted performer. On these tunes, and with Fisk, Peña tends to never play the same thing quite the same way. It makes for music that's filled with craft (watch those fingers fly!) and surprise for both the player and the audience. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata in D Major K.33
Bach: Prelude in F major, BWV 927
Sabicas: "Farruca"
Peña: "El nuevo día (Colombiana)"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Olivia Merrion; Production Assistant: Meredith Rizzo; photo by Meredith Rizzo/NPR

[@heyitsalanhere]

I used to sit on the bed next to my dad while he strummed his guitar and huskily sung some country songs. He was passionate about the the guitar. I went to an intimate concert where I somehow sat about a metre away from a lone guitarist. The music was sublime and I sat there with tears streaming down my cheeks. It was just a short time after my dad's death and I was so wishing he was there with me to hear this wonderful man play. The guitarist could see and feel my emotion and played so passionately with tears in his eyes. That wonderful guitarist was Paco Peña 🎶💜🎶

[@fredericonerkis3804]

That was pure enjoyment from the start to the finish, so good to see Paco still going strong into his eighties! Keep going maestro!

[@andrereginato3538]

The friendship of two wonderful musicians comes through in the music...BRAVO

[@NUJAKKCITIE]

paco's playing is really transcending into different universes! a pure maestro in his art!!

[@LafayetteLeSaint]

This is one of the reasons I love KZbin. You will hardly find this on tv or top 40 radio.

[@LafayetteLeSaint]

This Spanish piece moves me in ways I can't explain. It is a joy to watch two masters like these two. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnshort5003]

I remember a great Christmas concert of Paco Pena and John Williams on Radio 3 in 1980 which I recorded on cassette. But they played individually. Great to watch this now, Christmas 2018, dovetailing the classical and flamenco techniques.

[@jakobbinswanger9924]

There is so much joy in thid video. So inspiring seeing two amazing artists enjoying themselves. Music really has a potential to heal and bring together and to create a better world when it is used in the right way. I praise God when I see something like this, because he loves good music and when it brings joy and reveals his beauty.

[@Michajeru]

Wow, this is so, so good. I love listening to these two great guitar masters playing together.

[@ArdalanHamann]

If this video after 6 years had 2M views the world would be a better place

[@garygullikson6349]

This performance reminded me of an old Sabicas and Escudero recording where they never seemed quite in sync.

[@adilzahrani]

اداء خرافي ورائع يحلق بنا خارج هذا العالم وتركيبه فريده ومميزه من عازفين مختلفين في الاسلوب متفقين في الابداع

[@brucelevine5661]

Adil Zahrani englizi men fadlic

[@adilzahrani]

bruce levine A fantastic performance fly us out of this world ,and distinctive mixture of different musician similar in creativity

[@brucelevine5661]

Adil Zahrani SHUCRAN HABIBE

[@rickayyy3787]

THE GUITAR IS EATING THE MAN ALERT THE GUITAR IS EATING THE MAN

[@donaldsepanek8809]

This is beautiful. I could listen to this kind of stuff all day long.

[@laguitarradepablo]

GUIDE 00:01 Domenico Scarlatti - Sonata in D Major K.33 5:27 J. S. Bach - Prelude in F major, BWV 927 8:20 Agustín Castellón Campos (Sabicas) - "Farruca" 14:48 Paco Peña - "El nuevo día (a colombiana)"

[@jobukijoe7270]

gracias

[@hafeez1hammad]

cant help but notice their facial expressions... the notes are entwined... as if dancing around each other... The guitars are a part of their bodies ..communicating with each other

[@rbaleksandar]

Great performance. Love this kind of music and can listen to it day after day, after day...

[@CynicalBastard]

you couldn't find a more perfect triad of pieces. that was awesome. i love the precise slippiness of that last SA piece.

[@yamifyify]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@TheGlippe]

I watch this and keep watching. So much to see and hear here.

[@MonikitaCachia]

Maravilloso!

[@user-gb9we6dq6b]

c'est toujours si magique quand un guitariste classique rencontre un guitariste flamenco.

[@macleod41069]

Best I've seen Fisk play , last piece is SO beautiful.

[@edseloliveira]

Absolutely incredible!!

[@nenadmarincic7716]

La música.... ...es , .."un misterio...." (..y , el flamenco... par excellence...)

[@userillusion86]

Absolutely joyful, expressive playing by Fisk!

[@ankitparmar9746]

World needs more classical guitarists like him :)

[@robinterkzer8128]

Wonderful !

[@robertaneuhauser1418]

Incredibly passionate and lovely! Thank you!

[@BenjaminPepiot]

What a wonderful duet !!!

[@nunziocambareri4976]

semplicemente spettacolari eccezionali grandi la vera musica si esprime da dentro

[@arnaudmarlier4862]

Magnifique merci

[@JaimeHammett]

paco is a beast. I like it pretty much. thank you

[@johngiblin259]

As always .. magnificent piece of audio engineering

[@max-herzog]

What an interesting collaboration. I haven't seen Paco Peña perform in a long time. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@RICK-fs6yi]

A pleasure to listen to.Thank you for sharing.

[@TreavorUnion]

I love that they instruct as well as entertain.

[@antonellimendouza6083]

I have seen both of these awesome players live. Eliot fisk solo...what a super fast player. And Mr. Paco with "El Concierto de Aranjuéz".....what a splendid night! Its nice to see them together.

[@Y2H]

I strongly doubt that Paco Peña ever played Aranjuez. You might be thinking of Paco de Lucía

[@brucelevine5661]

i wouldnt dought it i saw paco de lucia also do it as well as many others

[@antonellimendouza6083]

You are absolutely right, it was Pepe Romero! Thanks for the observation!

[@H2O_007]

Great. 👌😍

[@josealejandroleyvasaez7150]

Paco grande,has llevado a la guitarra flamenca a lo más alto

[@Aorist1]

"Eliot, however, seems a bit stiff and stiff compared to Paco." It has its problems with flamenco techniques. It's nice to see how Paco smiles, but is happy to see how Eliot tries. All in all, great duo!

[@jaydeepalmer]

I love Fisk's guitar: a 24 fret guitar, so he can play Paganini's 24 caprices like a master! Are there any other guitarists in the world that achieved this??

[@jaydeepalmer]

@@josephcambron7060 a matter of taste, I guess

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Sobrado el Maestro Fisk.

[@heavenlyguitar5913]

Just beautiful. Excellent! Transcendent!

[@matlenl9263]

So beautiful!!

[@thn3748]

Всегда прекрасная живая музыка . Спасибо

[@alanensalanens]

He was great in News Radio

[@oscarconti5434]

Che goduria sentirli❤️

[@GustavoLucin]

Me, fascina bravo!!!!

[@spicyone]

Really nice to see how Paco Pena, THE absolute master of the classical flamenco-guitar, is humble enough to accompany Eliot Fisk in playing "his" music. And takes great joy in it. You got to love this man. Nice video of 2 great musicians expressing their passion. thanx.

[@olewetdog6254]

You have to smile listening to that!

[@mrkrud]

I like the idea of that extended fretboard! would be nice to have that option available

[@dphotos007]

Bravo well done guys

[@garthirving1056]

Paco Pena is an advanced Concert Level Guitarist..He's certainly played some of the most attractive Flamenco works over the years & I've always enjoyed his playing..He's not Manolo Franco from a technical point of view..Who is..So What..We all should stop playing & leave it to Manolo..John Mills below must a "Manolo" if he can call this playing crap..I think it's excellent & great to see these two playing together..

[@michaelpaglia3219]

Eliot ceases to amaze me.

[@RobertoStimoli]

As for Fisk, he is amazing, listen to his recording of Paganini's 24 capriccios for example , mind blowing

[@chadgrabner4136]

Paco in concert is more amazing. I also saw Eliot and loved it, inc 24th caprice..

[@neuralbliss]

Excellent! Thanks for having Eliot! I met Eliot in a mansion in Atlanta after a concert at Emory University Chapel when I was in 5th grade, circa 1985 - I believe it was a duet with Paula Robinson the flutist. I remember asking him about his fingernails and where he got his guitar and how much it cost! Wonderful memory. I turned 39 this year and still play everyday thanks to heroes like him and shows like Tiny Desk. :-)

[@torcuatopato]

The hole on the side is for the neck of the shirt? Great invention. Amazing.

[@jggfgfeshhgg6470]

lol. It is a dumb innovation though; like a guitarist can't hear what he is paying.

[@Erick-nc8mc]

maybe in a small room, but no in a big concert, not at all, so is a nice "dumb innovation" i guess you never has played in big performances

[@mattbacon285]

I've got a Connor similar to Fisk's and it sounds great. The hole makes a HUGE difference in recording or in a large hall. You also get the piece of wood with a small magnet and it covers the hole too.

[@axleblaze123]

The hole dose make a tonal difference.

[@virtualpilgrim8645]

The hole in the side of Elliot's guitar is to catch the drool from his lower lip...

[@celticgodsoriginal]

Fantastic. Mr Fisk's comments on Bream & Williams are correct.

[@velizar8880]

Great...

[@theRussians1918]

I laugh and cry (with joy) every time

[@user-jd7vj4ib3c]

Фаррука Фиску не по зубам. Это надо чувствовать сердцем.

[@danrainbowfly]

Ole Paco!

[@JoHawke]

Beautiful set!

[@chadgrabner4136]

Oh me oh my thats everything and then some

[@nea1186]

It's soo amazing!!

[@Bimagragaireacht]

I have a feeling this is all Fisk can do like someone else ties his shoes

[@AbeKenney]

I am pretty sure he is fluent in at least 3 languages.

[@awtodor]

just so good, love it!

[@BrianD428]

Those two sound like they're having an argument with instruments. I bet if you played like this with anyone you would have a great and lasting relationship.

[@back2backband1]

Bravo!!

[@magneloilterribile890]

Awesome!

[@toddme5466]

Bravo!

[@janelyons8941]

I'm ready to ride off into the steamy sunset on my mighty steed.

[@belindawood5128]

amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[@SueRosalie]

Note Eliot's interesting guitar with the extension of the fretboard for an additional 5 high notes

[@steveb9325]

His guitar sounds terrible. His playing is great although I know that is subjective...as is the guitar

[@pazimzadeh]

Sounds great when they're in sync. Fisk looks very tense.

[@brucelevine5661]

***** thats just how he is is intence

[@augustozitarrosa4739]

Philippe Azimzadeh i think he seems really taken by the music he's playing. i think a lot of guitar players concentrate tension in the jaw, while the rest of the body remains relaxed. although paco looks relaxed all the way through. anyways i like how they both let the wood rings

[@mikh565]

The 3:36 colour change is melt in the mouth

[@cphui]

bravo ! thx for sharing.........

[@boltonjack]

I love how Paco tries new styles. TBH I prefer his playing in a troupe with singers and dancers, but hey that's personal tastes :)

[@johnconway4833]

Fisk: owner of the world's LONGEST left-hand pinky. It's freaky!

[@psychosculptor]

Nice..

[@zachbrasili8148]

Wow! Cool!

[@krisfiskle]

these fellas are just lovely. really great

[@jggfgfeshhgg6470]

The other day I made a comment: that if you could play flamenco you could play anything. But after watching Pena's fingering (and being a classical guitarist) I am relieved that the traditional cliche: that if you could play classical you could play anything, is more true. Both performers are the most tech in their fields though.

[@fabriziodicarlo2591]

Fantastici

[@doctorshawzy6477]

finally..the real elliot fisk emerges!

[@kevinjokipii4260]

10:34 they go full metal \m/

[@giancarlospinelli288]

Me parece de oir Niño Miguel 😅😜 Grandi maestri!

[@FririkurEllefsen]

Brilliant

[@doctorshawzy6477]

marvellous...more guitar concerts should be like this..like a "jam session". i must say, however, that i agree that Segovia rescued the guitar from the flamenco players...

[@lianrevilla6618]

it is amazing how Eliot can read the notes but is more amazing how´s paco have all in his head

[@sebthi7890]

when i see this i think, Eliot Fisk should have rehearse more. He is a top "notist", but these level of technique is not any more top in 2017. Practicing brings quiet into nervous music, eliminates unnescessary accents. The performance is interesting and nice to see these two sympatic musicians.

[@jimdavidson210]

Serious question: How many times in that Scarlatti does Eliot actually look at his hands? Is he reading the whole time!? That's such an unbelievable level of concentration and technique.

[@MarkInLA]

+Jim Davidson I know why..He has no position markers that every guitar has these days, including my Cordoba C10. If I thought in time to, I'd have ordered it without them. What they do is cause an addiction to them. This in turn actually slows you down, always looking at them first before finding where the note/notes are. With no position markers you form a natural sense of your position to a point of not even needing to look where you are.

[@mrshervinmoheb]

Cool.

[@ligialewis2182]

John Mills , please take a Nice Pill . And try to be a little happier . George Lewis, Sr.

[@Amsire1]

How many years to achieve this...60??!

[@josephfazio7648]

Nice 🎶😎

[@Buzzbeerockz]

Its like Bells ringining

[@giuseppedavid1293]

grandissimi

[@blanebryant6742]

More views!