Abel Carlevaro

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Abel Carlevaro (1916–2001) was an exceptional virtuoso, classic guitar composer and teacher born in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was not only one of the most important guitarists of his time but the creator of a new school of instrumental technique as well. He developed a completely new method of seating and playing the guitar, based on deep anatomy studies.

He has been recognised as an exceptional performer worldwide and has gained the admiration and esteem of musicians such as Heitor Villa Lobos and Andrés Segovia. His performances in the most important music centres in Europe, Latin America and the United States have been acclaimed with high praise by the public and the critics alike.

[edit] Career

Carlevaro was a devoted composer. His musical production ranges from his "Preludios Americanos" which already form part of the repertoire of renowned guitarists in America and Europe, to his "Concierto No 3 para Guitarra y Orquesta" composed by request of and played for the first time by The Chamber Symphony of San Francisco.

Other contemporary ensembles of renown such as The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and The Kronos Quartet have also performed some of Carlevaro's works for the first time. His "Concierto del Plata" for guitar and orchestra has been interpreted by important European and American symphony orchestras.

A profound and dedicated teacher, Carlevaro was the creator of a new school of instrumental technique, a fundamental milestone in the evolution of the guitar expounded in his book "Escuela de la Guitarra Exposición de la Teoría Instrumental" (School of Guitar Exposition of Instrumental Theory), in the didactic series the "Cuadernos" as well as in the "Carlevaro Masterclass" series. These pedagogical works as well as his compositions and transcriptions are edited by Boosey and Hawkes of New York, Chanterelle Verlag of Heidelberg, Barry Editorial of Buenos Aires and Henri Lemoine of Paris.

When travelling abroad, Maestro Carlevaro was often invited to teach Master Classes, where in the course of a few consecutive days, students of all levels brought him their inquiries about technique, fingering, expression, or the like. The Maestro invited him/her to play the piece or section in question, and listened attentively. After the student's performance was over, he gave his opinion (most of the times an encouraging one) and his advice. But in most occasions, he also asked to try the guitar, examined it, tuned it a bit, and then played the same piece or passage again. At that point the lucky student and all those present were ovecome with amazement, as what they now were hearing seemed to be another, completely different instrument altogether, emitting a generous, handsome sound, full of rich timbres, playing a piece now full of color, expression, and significance: such was his mastery.

An indefatigable researcher, Carlevaro has also invented a new guitar (Concert-Guitar Model "Carlevaro"), the conception and design of which break away totally from traditional guitar making. The upper part of the sound box (on which the guitarists arm rests) was straight, while the bottum (that rests on the guitarist's leg) is curved as usual. He said that this improved the vibration of the lower notes. This new guitar also had the normal round sound hole closed, having instead a thin "slot" (a sound-slot instead of a sound-hole) all around the curvature of top: The top is actually separated from the sides - the top is quasi-floating, and is held in place only by wooden pins from the sides. Thus the guitar consists of 2 quasi-disjoint parts (held together only by the wooden pins): a) the back and sides b) the top. Today the Model "Carlevaro Guitar" is made by Eberhard Kreul (from Erlbach, Germany; where there are many great luthiers)

Until his last days he was an amazing teacher and player, and he gain world wide recognition for his outstanding skills and innovative studies.

[edit] Recordings

[edit] External Links

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