Classical Guitarists: Conversations - Paperback

by Jim Tosone (Author)

Classical Guitarists fills a void in the special world of the classical guitar. Although this realm is inhabited by world-class musicians, much of what they think and feel has never been captured in print. The interviewees, including Julian Bream, John Williams, Sharon Isbin, Eliot Fisk, David Starobin and David Tanenbaum are a select group at the peak of their prowess who speak openly and thoughtfully about their opportunities, accomplishments, and lessons learned. Each has made important contributions from establishing significant academic programs to broadening the audience for the classical guitar. The author shares his reviews of their most important recordings and New York City concerts during the 1990s, as well as discographies of their recordings. There are also interviews with Harold Shaw, the most prominent artist manager in the history of the classical guitar and several of today's most important composers for the guitar, including Pulitzer Prize winners George Crumb and Aaron Jay Kernis. An introductory chapter provides an historical perspective on classical guitar and a postscript explains how to create a basic repertoire of recordings.

Author Biography

Jim Tosone is a contributing editor and staff reviewer for Guitar Review magazine, where his articles and reviews have appeared regularly since 1991. He has also written for Soundboard magazine and authored the classical guitar entries for the three-volume Music in the Twentieth Century. His transcription for guitar of J.S. Bach's Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello was premiered at the 1991 Toronto Guitarfest. Tosone has played classical guitar for over 15 years. He studied privately with Dr. Nicholas Goluses, who at the time was chairman of the Guitar Department at the Manhattan School of Music. He has also performed in master classes for internationally renowned guitarists Hubert Käppel, Raphaëlla Smits and David Tanenbaum.