When I saw a string quartet at my elementary school in 1972, I knew the violin was the instrument for me. And that was the path I pursued...no regrets. I love playing more now than I did almost fifty years ago. But while the violin was my first love, it is not my only one. A few years after starting to study the violin, I had an affair with the guitar, and that love too still burns in my soul.
I remember where it started... this affair. I of course knew what guitars were...they were everywhere. I learned of the Beatles in 1978 and was instantly hooked by their sound. And I had a desire to play that kind of music, so learning to play the guitar seemed like the way to do that. But even before that point in my life, there was an equally profound introduction to guitar music thanks to Liona Boyd.
Liona Boyd released this album in 1974...her debut album. On one of my regular trips to the record store with my dad that year, I saw this record displayed on the "new release" shelf. I told my dad I wanted to buy it...well, I wanted him to buy it for me....which he did. I had heard of Andre Segovia at this point....we listened to some of his music in the music literature class I was taking (the program I was in at the University of Texas String Project provided students with an instrument and private instruction, as well as weekly classes in music theory, literature and ensemble play.) The sound of Segovia playing all of those notes on only one instrument was pretty amazing to me. Violins, at least at that point in my studies, only played one note at a time. My dad supported my interest in classical guitar because, even though it wasn't his "thing,' he recognized that it was classical music. So the record was mine. Disclaimer...I can't lie, I know I was smitten by this beautiful woman holding a guitar....it wasn't just the guitar that got my attention. I read the liner notes on the back of the record a thousand times, and listened to this record over and over and over. I could sing along with every note. The first cut on the album became my favorite: El Colibri by Julio Salvador Sagreras. Here is the full album.
Later that summer, Liona Boyd came to Austin to promote her album and played a live concert at the record store where we bought it. My dad took me. We got there pretty early, and I saw her coming out of a door at the back of the store...she was setting something up in the area she would be playing in. Then she went back. I followed her. The door was open so I poked my head in and there she was...she smiled and said hello. I said hello and told her we were looking forward to seeing her play. She was very kind and thanked us for coming. I noticed she had one of those big red, rubber, hot water bottles on her hand. I asked what was wrong? She laughed and explained that she was fine... her hands get cold easily, so before she plays a concert, she warms them up. I retreated from the room feeling awestruck. I had met a celebrity!
The concert she gave lasted about an hour as I recall. She was very friendly and open with those of us who showed up to hear her play. And play she did.....it was mesmerizing watching her fingers splay and stretch all over the fingerboard. And the fingers on her right hand as she picked, strummed and fluttered the strings. She even tapped and knocked on the body of the guitar (you can hear this on the last cut of the album: Le Muletier des Andes by Tomasi.)
Liona Boyd was hailed by the great Christopher Parkening as "one of the most excellent guitarists I have heard." She is alive and still performing.
That's me at the top of the page. I bought my first guitar in 1980 and started to teach myself how to play. I haven't ever had any lessons....I was too busy studying my first love, but that's OK. The guitar continues to give me joy every day.
