I didn't know he died to just reading this! I realize he was very old, but I had just looked him up a few weeks ago and remember thinking "I wonder if he can still play" and "He'd be cool to meet" Really skilled musician...inspiring to guitarists of all styles.
David, Try to remember that in art especially our likes and dislikes are accentuated and that our feelings are very much 'subjective'. I do like Bream, even saw him in recital back last century when he was still right on his game but to say that anyone at all is the best at anything that is at the end of the day a personal preference is not really doing anyone any favours. To be honest, if you'd said to Mr Bream that he's the best guitarist of all time I think he'd have laughed. Let's just say he was a great musician who played with the utmost passion everytime he picked up a guitar, a lute or whatever instrument he chose at that time. He will be sadly missed that's for sure.
Congratulations William. You're a sentient being with aural discernment. This is some of Beam at his best though some is a tad rushed (just my opinion) probably because he was in such good playing shape. Great recital.
I’m trying to improve my guitar posture, and really just wanted a quick look at a photo of Julian Bream to see how he holds the guitar. But instead I found this on RU-vid…. and here I still am 2 hours later!! Mesmerising.
I first listened to Julian Bream when I was 13 years old, one among several great artists who introduced me to classical music. I am listening again today at 70 years old in honor of this superb musician who gave so much pleasure to so many.
I remember as a teenager wakening my mum and dad from their sleep in the early hours of the morning and insisting they come down stairs straight away ( in their pyjamas ) and listen to the Together LP I’d just bought of Williams and Bream. I’ve been inspired by this man so many times in my life and never more so when listening to him play Nocturnal - thank you maestro Bream for blessing this world with your genius ❤️
I doubt there are many guitarists these days who would agree. There maybe some who are more technically proficient, but the tones and techniques coming out of his hands would be a challenge for any guitarist to rival, let alone surpass. @@eduardorojasdiaz4816
There are many performers who play well, but few like Bream who imbue a sense of total immersion to the listener. When he plays works by Albeniz I can smell the oranges in groves ripening under azure Spanish skies.
I would say to anyone who is critical of Bream's performances - if you are a guitarist (as I am), get up there and give it a try, you can only know what an accomplished musician this man was if you have had the experience of trying to express yourself through this incredibly challenging music.
how lucky and previledged these audience are to live in an age while angelic music and legendary masters like this were still around...Listening to Julian Bream was like you travel back to the age while Bach Handel were around...Amazing miracle of great music!
It is GIFT to be able to summon up a BRILLIANT performance from long ago...... we are so lucky; the people of the old days would love to have been able to type a few keys and hear a precious memory!
I'm an old but earnest musician- started with vinyl, but the web is just plain expansive. I'm now influenced by people nobody around me would have even heard of 30 years ago. We must protect the web from all corp-govt. control. This access to the world could be lost or at least constricted and monetized.
Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.…
I had the pleasure of seeing Julian in the 70's...was a brilliant concert at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide. The acoustics are wonderful there and I could hear every note and squeak even though I was near to the back of the theatre...Julian was worth every cent I paid for him...when he played the lute, it brought the house down so to speak...have never forgotten that concert. Just pure quality from start to finish.
Wasn't it wonderful?! I also had the privilege of hearing Bream in concert in the '70s, at SUNY in Albany, NY. My wife and I were extremely fortunate to be sitting in the second row center, about 15 feet from Bream. It was a thrill to both see and hear him play. To this day, I can find no other guitarist who can match Bream's exquisite interpretation and the incredible beauty and variety of tones he gets from a guitar.
If I could only listen to two guitarists for the rest of my life I'd only listen to Bream and Paco de Lucia. Unbelievable greatness. My hero. Thank you to the poster!!!!!
I can tell you're a guitarist or musician yourself and a pretty good one as non guitarists/musicians wouldn't quite appreciate them as we do. Bream, Paco de Lucia and Joe Pass for me.
How about Vicente Amigo, John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, John Williams, Sabicas, Moraito Chico, Stevei Ray Vaughan, Gerardo Nunez, Johnny Fean, Tomatito, Frank Zappa, etc. Don't limit yourself to two, have fun!! There are also some great women guitarists out there too (like Noe Dresner) but not very well recognised yet. But that will change.
Al hacer calificaciones no puedes poner juntos a Julian Bream con Paco de Lucía, porque son géneros totalmente diferentes. Bream estaría junto a Segovia, Williams, Yepes, etc, de guitarra llamada clásica. Paco estaría en otro grupo con Tomatito, Moraito Chico, etc, de guitarra llamada flamenca.
1. Bach BWV 998: Prelude (1:30), Fugue (4:05) and Allegro (10:09) 2. Villa-Lobos: Prelude No.3 (12:42), Prelude No.1 (15:27) and Prelude No.2 (19:15) 3. Albeniz: Granada (21:43), Cadiz (26:33) and Sevilla (30:29) 4. Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland (Op. 70) I - Musingly (34:42) II - Very agitated (36:16) III - Restless (37:01) IV - Uneasy (38:36) V - March-like (39:46) VI - Dreaming (41:07) VII - Gently rocking (42:38) VIII - Passacaglia (43:29) IX - Slow and quiet (47:17)
Not just a great guitarist, but also something much rarer, a great musician. Nowadays there are lots of guitarists who can get their fingers on the notes; but I've yet to hear one who can play Bach with the poignancy, beauty and drive that Bream offers here.
He is one of the gifts that keeps on giving. I have listened to Bream for nearly 50 years, yet I had never heard these live performances of the Albeniz pieces before. He is indeed the master of classical guitar, with Bream you can always hear the music.
Julian Bream was the first guitarist I ever saw live, at Mechanics Hall in Worcester mass, probably in 78 or 79. I met him back stage, shook his hand and he signed my concert program, which I still have today. He was my first guitar inspiration, and one of the best that I can ever remember. May his legend live a thousand years, as will his master, Andreas Segovia. May you all live forever in Guitar heaven. And may you continue to inspire me for the rest of my life.
I have read comments about this video and would just like to share some information some listeners may not be acquainted with as to why Bream may sound "rushed" in this performance Bream was a phenomenal guitarist who travelled the entire world for 70 years throughout his musical journey, and liked to perform music in a somewhat "improvisational" style in a live setting, because he believed that's how true music was really made. Aside from that just being how he is, when multiple countries of every continent want to hear your best most renowned pieces for several decades, you have to mix it up a little bit and try new things to constantly keep it fresh, for you and the audience. The studio recordings of bream are the definitive versions and some who believe Bream to be overrated from watching this video are simply picking one from the hundreds if not thousands of performances that were each given by Bream uniquely in their own way. This was just how this concert happened to be played. He also preferred not to be recorded in a live setting as it ruined the atmosphere of the performances which would make me imagine that recording him live would leave him very bothered or on edge the entire time, which is definitely not an excuse for a musician/performer of this level but this was clearly a special occasion and I know Bream loathes cameras and recording equipment. I just wanted to explain so people could make a more informed opinion of this concert. I hope I did not come off as rude in any way as I just wanted to share :)
Jared Lucus So who asked you ! ! ..".rushed " Maybe you think so ! He was, in the kindest meant way, lulling me into a stupor he's so comforting.. Or maybe it's the fact that the man (98%) never squeaks..He's smooth like Jack Daniels and pumpkin pie ! ...sounds rushed.... Yeah right ! You rushed to tell us this unnecessary load of manure. Thanks for the education we need like a .................
Um, sir, I am, in fact, agreeing with you. I am just sharing information with other people as to why THEY would think it sounds rushed. I clearly stated this in the very first sentence of my comment. I loved every moment of it! Please, I don't think you fully understood what I was saying. There is absolutely no need to be rude, especially when we are agreeing about the exact same thing! Good day to you
Few people appreciate the sound and complex arrangements of this music now days, but some of us are very grateful for your gift to us, Rest in Peace Julian.
Just listen to that TONE! Few musicians in the world have a unique tone and technique that when you hear them, immediately identify who it is. Jascha Heifetz and Stéphane Grappelli on violin, Art Tatum, Glenn Gould and Arthur Rubenstein on piano, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane on saxophone, Jean-Pierre Rampal and James Galway on flute ... Julian Bream was in that high class. You will be missed Maestro. R.I.P
Even as an untrained amateur, one can tell this is something very special. What magic it is that Julian had the desire, and the discipline to practice so diligently so we may hear this glorious music. If there's anything sacred in the universe it must have some connection with this music, and it's interpretation by Julian. He has literally healed my mind, and my body from serious illness, just by falling into the dream of his music. We can't thank him enough.
Thank you for posting this wonderful concert. I have indicated below the start times of each piece/movement. Bach Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-flat major, BWV 998 01:30 Prelude 04:06 Fugue 10:09 Allegro Villa-Lobos Preludes, W419 12:41 Prelude No. 3 in A minor: Andante 15:28 Prelude No. 1n E minor: Andantino espressivo 19:15 Prelude No. 2 in E major: Andantino Albéniz Suite Española, Op. 47 21:43 Granada 26:34 Cádiz 30:30 Sevilla Britten Nocturnal After John Dowland, op.70 34:42 Musingly 36:17 Very Agitated 37:02 Restless 38:37 Uneasy 39:46 March-like 41:07 Dreaming 42:39 Gently Rocking 43:30 Passacaglia 47:17 Come, Heavy Sleep (Dowland)
I was so fortunate to see the great JB at Wigmore Hall, and will never forget the superb performance from a classical maestro. A sad loss, but the impression and memory of the sound of his playing still remains.
As I live in Copenhagen, DK, I have several times heard him in the beautiful Odd Fellow Palais in Great Kings Street. Wonderful acoustics! It burned some years ago, but have been rebuilt.
The man's memory alone is phenomenal...to sit there through all that musical work without missing a note. The Bach !! Pheeeeeeeeeeew ! The VillaLobos !!....stunning !!
Phenomenal concert. Bream at his deep, honest best. Clean? Mostly. From the heart? Completely. And if you've ever performed the BWV 998 live, you know the development section of the Fugue is a beast.
A truly wonderful musician. As he said, he got better every year until his body gave out. A truly wonderful musician. Love Julian forever. RIP, Maestro
Bream is a musician in the class of Henryk Szeryng, Mstislav Rostropovich, Marta Argerich, and James Galway. He controls the line with a mastery of technique few guitarists seem able, coaxing out melodies of amazing continuity and accompaniment of perfect rhythms, timbres, and feel. Listening to him play is a rare treat, and it would be nice to be able to focus on a single piece from start to finish without a commercial advertisement interrupting the whole spell being cast. It’s the internet, and I realize we’re all bumpkins here, but might we time the commercials for breaks between songs, perhaps during applause? It’s the least we could do for a late master who still lights our way.
Favio Lima, from Brazil, was the winner of the Julian Bream award for the last time, assisted and chosen by himself, at his home in England. He competed in the final with an English and a French guitarist. And he brought us recognition of his talent by Master Bream. Listen to Fabio Lima on the internet. His interpretations of classics and popular music are stupendous. One of the largest in the world today.
I was one year old when this was filmed. I am 46 now. I only just learned of Julian Bream this past year and have been listening to more and more of his works as time goes by. What a champion of classical music, truly an inspiration. It makes me sad to think that this kind of music is so steadily fading away, as all things do; underappreciated by our rapidly diminishing culture as a whole in this world. But poor taste is not an ailment a person is born with, rather a habit that can and must be broken as one grows and learns to behold beauty in it's more honest forms.
“Every time I play a piece, I present myself with another set of problems, which I want to solve. I find, in trying to solve these problems, I can reshape and re-invigorate each performance. So often the music seems quite fresh to me, simply because I may have tried to change the quality of sound of a particular note. This means the that the note which precedes it and the note that comes after, tend to be a little different also. Music-making for me is a constant voyage of discovery. (…) I find I am constantly searching for the true spirit of a piece of music.” (Tony Palmer, Julian Bream, A Life on the Road, p. 186)
At DOD, Lovely quote, I try to start every day on my guitar like that. If he were talking about improvising and not interpreting then you wouldn't need to change a single word.
The first 12 minutes in particularly are so beautiful and are incredibly inspiring to guitarists such as myself who are constantly trying to improve. I listen to this nearly every day to keep me on my toes!
Such a great guitarist. Been a fan since I heard Julian Bream in 1970, the album Classic Guitar (Guiliani, Sor, Diabelli and Mozart) Still one of many favourites.
Yes an acknowledged world artist with classical guitar music he ought to have been offered a knighthood a decade ago. What a pure joy to listen to this. Thank you for posting it for us to dream through music. Brilliant. Bless him forever.
Couldn't agree more about the knighthood, or indeed, the lack of same, then again you wouldn't expect class or good taste from the likes of Blair, not enough votes for him in Julian Bream.
My favorite classical guitar player of all time. His playing has had a lasting influence on my own playing as a bar that can be reached for over 40 years . I saw Julian on this tour when he came to Princeton New Jersey , after hearing him play on the radio. Thank you Julian . So magical to watch and listen to the concert all over again 40 years later .
There will only ever be one Julian Bream.An incredible gift to the guitar. Before I had even heard of him, someone was playing his lute suite and it grabbed me by the heart and has never let go. One thing I must say about TV producers who select the shots and angles, please don’t give us one hand at a time, you never do that to pianists so why guitarists, the co-ordination between both hands is part of the performance, forget the ‘art’ and give us the performance as if we were there.
So we learn to totally ignore the dislikes as completely irrelevant and without credibility from those whom imagine that world class performers like Bream and others actually need their "nod of approval" or that they persuade the rest of us in any way. An anonymous dislike without so much as the investment of a one word comment borders on insanity considering no one cares. It's like arguing with oneself. Gorgeous playing as always by Bream. This 1978 concert performance is the standard we guitarist hope to achieve not to mention his later performances.He is one beast of a musician and performer! Great concert.
As a guitar player of blues and jazz I must say his technique is amazing. Iv never seen a player get more out of one position then him. Unreal. Great to see it.
What? Tone is what makes Bream the best there is. There is no guitarist who creates such soundscapes as he. You're entitled to your opinion of course but it's about 180 degrees from not only mine but most guitarists and guitar aficionados I know.
Funny i thought exactly the same thing and posted it. He did get a life times achievement award from Classic FM but its not the same his contribution to classical baroque and modern classical is outstanding.
I would not be surprised if Julian Bream, a man of such incredible talent and modesty to match does not miss such awards. Economist Thomas Piketty recently refused France's "Legion d’honneur" expressing that it was not up to a government to confer honor. He said: “I refuse this nomination because I do not think it is the government’s role to decide who is honourable,...”
Julian Bream is simply the consummate allround musician, but also what about the pairing of the great guitarist or our era and that of the vast talents of the isntruments of Jose Romanillos. As near to perfection as one could hope to get. Thank You to what ever or who ever brought these two men together.
