John Williams talks about the Classical Guitar Part 1

[@Francisco23997]

This interview has encouraged me to go on with my studies of classical guitar.

[@Batchicken12125]

you know what? I actually agree with most of your statement. What makes me a musician is that I embrace all many styles of classical music and popular music. To call me the arrogant one is not fair at all because as I said, I've done my fair share of classical playing and I appreciate it just as much and rock n' roll. The reason I left the classical world is the attitude I get from some people for viewing music the way that I do.I'm not stuck in the mindframe of classical being all there is.

[@broggi007]

Hey there o0MeTube0o... These pieces he was dabbling with were the Bach Fugue as mentioned, which is BWV 1001 Fugue... he also played a little bit of Villa-Lobos Etude No. 1, the rest was essentially just messing around with chordal changes... I hope this helps

[@iamJROD]

@utooberblooper ...You are correct, but classical and flamenco guitar is still more advanced then the aforementioned guitar styles of the guitarist you mentioned. The right hand fingerstyle techniques of the classical and flamenco guitar requires a lot more to develop then playing with a pick.

[@Blanchefort1]

@bloodshot111 It is Prelude in D by J.S. Bach. (Originally for cello.)

[@SerenaCostantino]

wonderful !! Serena

[@blinddog99]

This was taken from a documentary that was on UK television called Story of the Guitar and I think it was presented by Alan Yentob. It wasn't just about classical guitar though, it had interviews with Pete Townsend, The Edge from U2, I can even remember Jack Black was on it, though God knows why. I can't tell you if you can get it on DVD.

[@utooberblooper]

you have to also remember the rock n roll guitarist he is referring to is a 50's style 3 chord guitarist,not a yngwie malmsteen ,tony mcalpine,joe satriani ,steve vai ,vanhalen.these guitarists are obviously more schooled than many classical guitarists and have attended years of m.i.t and know many classical pieces on the guitar but transposed 4 or 5 separate parts and play the entire thing at 10 times the original speed while still maintaining beautiful tone and insane clarity and control.

[@VUandChips]

What is the name of the song that begins at 0:55? Thanks.

[@hevster501]

please upload the rest!! where can i find this??

[@zatarregaza]

@guitarmbar Keep in mind Williams had stints with popular styles. Look at his involvement with Sky. He's not knocking popular styles, rather he seems to mention the guitar's early limitations were due in part to how it was played. You could probably add to this the fact that polyphony as a little established discipline in the 14th and 15th centuries would not have necessitated the development of the instrument beyond what it was practically used for.

[@anekinpockpass9144]

what strum does he do at 2:28?

[@ricointx]

Is this from a DVD?

[@classicoALEX]

What is the Bach piece played by Williams at the start?

[@Chuichupachichi]

John Williams spoke of the guitar as existing during the 14th & 15th centuries. Its one of those neither wrong nor right things, but simply a matter of how one wishes to interpret the word "guitar" However, it can be said that since the modern guitar does possess the form such as the one in his hands, that the 14th & 15th century Lutes were not exactly guitars. Of course, one can also say the 14th & 15th century guitar evolved into its current form

[@Aldobrandino1792]

Thanks!

[@Rowanb1234]

Love the comment at 0:40. "a rock guitarist can be turned out in12 hours flat"

[@bloodshot111]

What piece is John playing at 1:00?

[@cihad2003]

from wich song is the strumming at 2:27

[@james987654321qwerty]

What is this documentary called?

[@johnathandk42134]

@gonja3000 yeah but there are techniques like sweep picking, alternate picking, economy picking, inside and outside picking that classical guitarists don't do and it takes years to develop good technique with those things, and classical guitarists always say id like to see a rock guitarist play some bach or beethoven but us rock guitarists would like to see a classical guitarist play something by rusty cooley, michael angelo batio, or yngwie malmsteen, fact of the matter is both take practice

[@classicoALEX]

Thanks :)

[@guitar1050]

Wich documentary is this from?

[@ReeceNTI]

Does anybody know what guitar he plays ? the brand or maker would be good :)

[@tanle7164]

greg smallman

[@SixStringSteve]

@sbliss554 'the story of the guitar', narrated by Alan Yentob.

[@Aldobrandino1792]

Holy words!

[@KevinToine]

@VUandChips cello suite n° 1 prelude, Bach

[@oknarbtal]

lol...you can't become a rock guitarist in 12 hours,do not underestimate. I am both rock/blues and classical guitarist and it's just different..

[@Joelcct]

That's Bach's Prelude from Cello Suite #1

[@gonja3000]

@johnathandk42134 your right there both take practice but he trying to say that mastering the classical guitar is harder because you must learn to read music and play with a beautyfull tone and techniqe takes years to get good at. especially good tone it takes two years just to develop an ok tone. not to mention the dufficulty of many classical songs like gran jota and bachs chaconne trans. by andres sogovia you cant learn those songs by ear like you can with rock songs

[@ftryew]

julian bream is the kid

[@Chuichupachichi]

Nevertheless, today we distinguish between Lute, Mandolin & Guitar, indicating that they're uniquely different instruments. My personal view is that the Guitar, or "la Guitarra" is a relatively young instrument, having been born within 19th century Spain "a Rock n Roll guitarist can be turned out in12 hours flat & a Classical player must devote at least 12 solid years to patient study" Yea, but at least a Rock guitarist can effectively disguise the fact that musicians are geeks

[@Chuichupachichi]

@ReeceNTI {Does anybody know what guitar he plays ?} Yes, its without a doubt, made by the Master Luthier whom makes the best classical guitars. This can be easily determined by the fact that its played by John Williams Don't mean to be a smart ass, but I was wondering the same thing right after he played the arpeggio. Doesn't it sound beautiful? It almost sounds like a grand piano during that arpeggio...especially the deep, rich lows Sorry, but I'm also curious of the make

[@tanle7164]

Its a greg smallman guitar

[@Francisco23997]

Hahaha! So funny.... "if he can do it, I can do it too" ... and the mother is thinking something like: Oh, I love my son, but poor boy... and the goldfish suffering into its fishbowl... hahaha! Master Aaron Shearer said: "playing a musical instrument such as the classic guitar is one of the most remarkable of human achievements"

[@Aldobrandino1792]

I didn't understand well. What just did you say?

[@jaxmikey59]

After seeing Ana Vidovic --I no longer play rock guitar! I have gone headlong into studying classical!

[@Warchild281]

You misinterpreted what was said. Dont get me wrong, i agree with you. But alot of Rock consists of a 3 or 4 chord progression, where as Classical is not that simple. The quote isnt referring to greats like Clapton or Satriani.

[@AsylumSeaker]

@meeetthh You're comparing and claiming they can't be compared simultaneously.

[@greywrath]

@fashionablesss then you don't know what classical guitar is. Go check stuff John Williams and Bream play and then compare it with the acoustic, witch is played with a pick(mostly)

[@achange2012]

1:17 oh man... it's looking at me... oh god what do i do.

[@johnathandk42134]

a rock guitarist can be churned out in 12 hours MY ASS!! classical guitarists have a lot of technique unique to their style but rock and metal does too

[@TheRyandarius]

you were handsome when you were young

[@TheCatalunya]

if you can play the guitar after 12 hours ha ha and i think you need a few more months to be able to play campfire songs your fingers on the left hand would be all over the place...but hey maybe i was a slow learner 30 years ago ...

[@carefreemusic]

Bach prelude 1007

[@spats19711]

Well I am sure both disciplines take exactly that - discipline! However please keep Yngwie out of it!!! His ability to pervert his 'classical' influence (not actually 'classical' more baroque so the term neoclassical is wrong!), is incredibly insulting. I teach students at the age of 12 and 13 who play the Bach Bouree (grade 5) with much more poise and sensitivity. Yngwie kills it! But both styles of guitar playing are as different as soccer and American Football. Comparison is futile!

[@guitarmbar]

What is the guitar's "bad reputation". The fact that it has roots and tradition in popular styles is a bad thing? I like John Williams as a player and person but it is disappointing to hear him say such narrow minded things. This is the sort of attitude Segovia implanted in people.

[@Batchicken12125]

Actually, I have studied classical guitar, I'm a music major in college and actually up for several awards. I can make these kinds of statements because I'm not strictly a classical player. I am a real musician, and you clearly are not because absolutely nothing about your statement was true. Good luck with your endeavors buddy.

[@adrianburridge2378]

I think an audience would decide as to whether you are a Musician or not.