Product Description

This instructional DVD takes us to the heart of the music of the great Andres Segovia. Eliot Fisk, a protegé of Segovia and a master of classical guitar in his own right, has put together a lesson that is filled with invaluable advice and powerful insights into the timeless Segovia legacy.

Eliot Fisk's passion for teaching and his love for the music of "the Maestro" is apparent throughout this DVD, which is accessible to guitarists on all levels. He explores the music in great detail, focusing on interpretation, musicianship, guitar technique, and Segovia's place in the history of classical guitar. Eliot's energetic exposition is inspiring, and should be essential viewing for anyone interested in classical guitar.

Starting with an analysis of a Segovia transcription of the Bach "Prelude In D Minor," Eliot goes on to explore three of Segovia's remarkable "Canciones Populares" (classical guitar interpretations of beautiful folk melodies) and the haunting "Estudio Sin Luz" ("Study without Light"), written when Segovia was in danger of losing his eyesight. He includes tips on tone production, hand positions and other classical guitar techniques, as well as harmonizations and ideas on how to interpret the written music. Homepun Tapes' split-screen and close-up video techniques allow the student to study Eliot's hands in detail. As an added treat, Eliot performs lovely pieces by Haydn and Ponce, along with Segovia's work.

"Everything we do on classical guitar today harks back to the great Segovia," says Fisk, who was awarded "Best Classical Guitarist" by Guitar Player Magazine's Readers Poll. This video, taught by a formidable contemporary artist, is a rare opportunity to learn the technique and deep musicality that made Andres Segovia one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75877 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 75 minutes

From the Actor
Andres Segovia (1893-1987) is considered by most modern scholars to be the father of the modern classical guitar movement. Without his early efforts to build a repertoire and push luthiers to experiment with new woods and designs to increase its natural amplification, the guitar might still be considered unworthy to play classical music. Segovia brought guitar studies to major universities, and the classical guitar is now heard on concert stages throughout the world. His impeccable musicianship and technique, combined with his passion for the guitar, has influenced thousands of players who carry on the Segovia tradition.

Customer Reviews

Great guitarist - Mediocre Instructor
There are true gems to be mined in this instructional video from Eliot Fisk. Excellent insights into Segovia's approach to playing and his influence on the world of classical guitar. Some of the tips I enjoyed were the ones on arpeggios and vibrato. The only problem I have with Fisk's presentation is that he seems too focused on dazzling his viewers with his playing and not focused enough on bringing the viewer up to his level of proficiency. This video is not for beginning guitarists or even beginning classical guitarists. You need at least an intermediate skill level and probably an advanced one to benefit from it. If you simply want to watch one of Segovia's former students display the skills he learned from the maestro then you'll probably love it.

Not for the novuce
This is a well put together DVD and I would have given it 5 stars but the sound quality isn't that great. I will point out straight away though, that this DVD is NOT for a beginner. You need to be working at an advanced intermediate stage, (beyond grade 5) to be able to follow Eliot Fisk's descriptions of chord structures, rythmm and harmonies, and to be able to take his instructional content and apply it to the instrument. The pieces which he performs on the DVD, are well within reach, if you study them carefully, and don't try to play them at the speed Eliot does, you will find it useful.

This dvd grows on you....
When I first popped this dvd in I wasn't very impressed, probably because it offers a type of instruction that I am not very used too. He approaches the music thoroughly and with the expressive quality only the guitar can offer. He talks more about articulation and musical analysis more than any other instruction book or dvd I've encountered. It's kinda along the lines of the Parkening method in the way he gives so many little tips about the pieces he's playing but Eliot takes it up a notch. This is NOT for the beginner!!!! But if you want a glimpse into how an atonishing player like Eliot Fisk approaches his craft this is a must have. He brings to light the nuances that you won't find anywhere else that will make you that much closer to sounding like our heroes. I absolutely love this dvd.