Customer Reviews

Latin American Guitar Music

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This recording is a fine value, featuring a legendary performer presenting some lesser-known gems not part of the standard repertoire. Well worth the modest price.

Can't be Beat! 77 minutes worth of some great, neglected 20th Century classics, and the linear notes are by Mr. Williams no less!! Every second here is a gem, and you don't have to play guitar to appreciate these wonders. If you do play, give this one some serious listening, and you'll surely learn some new playing techniques..Among the very best classic guitar values anywhere!!!!

The only drawback is that the CD was burned from tapes, which means that you get a bit of hiss in the backround. But the artistry of Williams, together with the genius of Barrios really shines through!

This cd is great, but be careful since there has been a factory error in several editions.

My original cd had a scratch in one of the tracks, so I decided to buy a new one in a store. The new one came in the case of this cd and the label in the cd was "Latin American Guitar Music - John Williams". But when I played it, the music was different. Thanks to my iTunes Library we learnt that it had the tracks of "Famous Guitar Music of Latin America" with Kurt Schneeweiss. Now, several years later I bought the cd again from AMAZON and the content is again the Schneeweiss record.

My review is based on a cassette tape of this recording which is a ground-

breaking performance of the music of barrios. But when I received the CD I discovered the listings were the same as the cassette, but the disc

contained entirely different pieces by another performer---a far inferior

one. I think this is a case of wilful deceit by whoever packaged the CD--

The disc itself appears completely bogus---so my advice would be to skip

this one (I tried another vendor--same result) and try another CD of Williams playing Barrios.Latin American Guitar Music

Agustin Barrios (El Indio) Mangore was a true sensitive composer, a real poet of the guitar, and John Williams understood so well the score's intention as any other player of this instrument.

When you listen "Una limosna el amor de Dios" or to my view the best track: "Sueño en la floresta" you will be inmediatly in rapture state. Williams added a profound,touching and expressive lyricism that completes the circle.

Williams have been always a guitarrist deeply involved with the Latin American composers: He has developed a great admiration for Antonio Lauro and his performance of Concierto de Aranjuez with Ormandy and Philadelphia Orchestra in 1967 stands by far as the most convincing version I have ever listened.

Go for this album and you will convince by yourself.

I used to have this on tape, but now I want to buy the CD. I have Williams' more recent performance of Barrios (from the Jungles of Paraguay)on CD. It's a comprehensive collection of Barrios' best compositions; however, I think that CD was recorded with way too much reverb, which is somewhat distracting. So, I'm going back to this older collection of Barrios, with much less reverb. The only bad thing about it is the Ponce Folias, which I'm not crazy about. Unfortunately, the Folias takes up about half the CD; but like almost every piece Williams lays his hands on, the Folias is played with impeccable skill.

I ordered this one, but what came was "Famous Guitar Music from Latin America" by guitarist Kurt Schneeweiss. The CD case and CD label both said John Williams. I knew something was wrong when the track list didn't match what was on Amazon. But then the songs...urg. This guy takes incredible liberties (with rythm and flourishes) to the point that some (famous) pieces are virtually unrecognizable. I'd love to hear the actual JW cd someday...