STEVE HOWE REINVENTED MY ENTIRE LIFE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. HERE'S A SHORT STORY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. The first time I heard Steve Howe play I was awestruck. I used to watch the Johnny Carson show with my mom and her identical twin sister, my Aunt Jane. They even tried to sing together, which was hysterical. It's like a 55+ drunk singing karaoke that thinks they sing great. We had the radio and albums, 45's, 78's, a turntable which could play 16's. Grandma bought original sheet music at auctions, like Flight of the Bumblebee. I grew up with the twins' music which was '50s rock and roll, with such a blues influence. They could dance great together but were awful singers and piano players. HYSTERICAL. Mom worked constantly so I asked gramma if I could take classical piano lessons. She was enthusiastically thrilled, and agreed immediately. I was so happy, hugged her so tight and loved her so much. I never heard anybody play classical guitar like Steve Howe. He was the most influential musician to me. If I wasn't outside playing with my sister my cousin Tommy and our neighbors' identical triplets and older sister Maureen, who studied classical music me with the same teacher, like a normal child, games and sports, sleigh riding, tag, riding a bicycle or mostly running constantly, I could be found practicing in the conservatory or fooling around with the blues and rock and roll. Thank you Chuck Berry. Thanks Mom and Aunt Jane. Steve Howe really re-shaped my idea of classical music after hearing him play The Clap. I went out and bought the Yes Songs music book which had all sheet music from Yes Songs. I was shocked to learn he wasn't playing the piano. I could play the melody line but I couldn't get the base correct, so I bought the book and the rest is history. The things we remember I'm not our childhood I truly amazing at my age now.
The range this man can play on a guitar is ridiculously immense! From hard rock, country blues, Spanish Flamenco, classical, rockabilly, orchestral, etc... He truly is one of the most underrated phenomenal guitarists ever! Period.
Well, he did win _Guitar Player Magazine's_ best overall guitarist 5 years in a row. The created their Hall of Fame for him, stuffed him in it and disqualified him from winning to give other players a chance. Last I saw, only Eric Johnson and Steve Morse are in it. I'd say he more under recognized than underrated. Those who know him, know he's da GOAT. People know the "To be continued..." meme w/o knowing whence it came and who playeth it. But yeah, he took all of those influences and made a one of a kind style.
Thank you Mr. Howe. I am 50 years old now and I have been listening to your music since I was 10. Keep it up and thank you, for many years of beautiful music.
Steve Howe shows how a person can keep and improve his natural talent through so many years. He is my favorite guitar player and an example for future generations. Thanks Steve, you make me love the guitar and the music.
My fave guitar player too, as I always. As far as I know, he can't read music. I was shocked when I discovered it but then my admiration for him grew up even more. A huge natural talent!
Bach is timeless ... What is really amazing is the fact that somebody who was not classically trained in music as Steve can perform Bach as he does ... wonderfully and respectfully. Many thanks, maestro.
First let me qualify this comment haha I'm a huge Steve Howe fan as a guitarist and more so as a composer but I'm pretty sure most classically-trained guitarists would question his technique🤪
@@calebsj That's not the point, lol. The point is it's not common to see a self taught "not classically trained" guitarist being able to play or compose a classical piece, let alone one with world class reputation like Steve Howe, even if their technique is not 100% perfect, which is totally expected. Steve is definitely a gifted guitarist for rock standards.
やっぱりこの人は本質がクラシック、現在この高齢でも感性は．．．なんて素晴らしい音楽家なんだろう．．．もう言葉も無くなるほどその深淵へと誘われる．．．So wonderful tune when he plays classic guitar through his essence . These sounds current just come to our hearts.
Steve Howe is a genius of the overall playing of stringed instruments. He's a Master, not only because of his playing... but because of his mastery as a composer too.
How old are you to keep up with these comparisons ? I think it's pointless. I'm 52 and I love Jimmy Page and Steve Howe... I would not compare them... and if you want the names of some guitar players who're technically superior to them (at least more consistent in terms of regularity in their performances) I've got tons to mention, but I won't here.... What is sure is that I love Yes and Led Zeppelin, and Genesis with Steve Hackett and Pink Floyd (where nobody was a real virtuoso, i think but nevermind, they did fantastic albums and David Gilmour is a guitarist whose style I love) and many other bands... i think Jimmy Page created some complex rhythm guitar parts, some unusual chords/sounds... and sometimes some great, complex solos, but in concert, it depends... I think he is awesome on the live solo No Quarter featured on the live album "The Songs Remains The Same" (the original double LP or original double CD - the videos and the recent remaster have a slightly edited/shortened guitar solo).
The only person telling people that Steve Howe can’t compete with Jimmy Page would be Robert Plant!!!……………he has clearly got his head well and truly up Pages arse......like most zeppelin fans!!!
@@Marctull66 Mention them, please. And if they are also composers and versatile ones, would be great. Don´t need tons of them, 3 or 4 woluld be enough. Thanks in advance.
I have loved Bach's "Wachet Auf" since I first heard it on my father's copy of the album "Switched on Bach" in 1968. I bought the sheet music at a shop on Tottenham Court Road (in London) when I was a student at UCL in the early 1970s and painfully transcribed it, note by note, into tablature, as I am not a music reader but desperately wanted to play it on guitar. Also on Tottenham Court Road in those days was a guitar shop called the Fender Sound House where, among the instruments on display, they had a mini-exhibition of instruments used by Yes on tour, including a mellotron and one of Steve Howe's lap-steel guitars, each bearing the band's logo. I used to wander into the shop during my lunch break and gawp in astonishment at these strange and unbelievably exotic (and expensive!) instruments. And now here is this exquisite version of "Wachet Auf" played by Steve Howe himself. It brought tears to my eyes as I listened to it. The music is as beautiful as ever, and Howe's playing is serene and assured. For me, "Wachet Auf" is both stately and full of a barely suppressed pathos, and all that is there in this recording. Sublime.
Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman brought classical music to YES. If you listen to all that old music, you are hearing a LOT of classical guitar wrapped into progressive rock.
From the beginning of Yessongs Siberian Khatru and Stravinsky, I am so fascinated about how Steve and the rest of Yes introduce us and give us appreciation for all types of genres opening up the palette of possibilities to our minds canvas. TY always Steve.
He went from being the lead guitarist for a HUGE band and now he plays classical. Craaaaazy evolution. Sidenote... Steve Howe is the most criminally underrated guitarist EVER.
I'm 55 now, I bunked off school when I was 15 to see YES at Wembly arena . I took the train from LIverpool lime street. what a brill memory. Thanks YES, anita
I’ve been listening to Steve for 50+ years and I too am amazed how he continues to master the stringed instrument. Its always nice to hear and or see him play. I can’t wait to see him again soon. Thanks Steve.
Instead of making comparisons and rankings, why don't we just acknowledge how cool this is to have a guy like Howe playing this with this sweet chamber orchestra? Something more to respect him for, instead of being a one-dimensional guitarist. Say what you will, but he's never been shy about doing something different. My favorite guitarist ever for that reason.
Steve Howe is a treasure. I've been a fan for almost 50 years - there are other great guitarists, and the discussion about who is best is purely academic, but you can't deny Mr. Howe a spot at the top of the list. Thank you, sir, for so much music and musicianship for so many years. I'm glad I was able to be a listener during these years.
That is beautiful musicianship.Such a versatile guitarist.I have loved his playing since the beginning of the 1970s.I'm not sure what has happened to him now.He doesn't seem to have the same flare that he had 10 or 15 years ago.
One of the greatest musicians ever, Steve Howe. Classical or Rock, progressive, electric guitar or not.. a genius. My dad was a musician and met Steve in recording studios in London, back in the 70s. They had conversations about Vangelis joining Yes back then, as their organ player-think it never happened though :) Greetings from Greece!
Amazing album!.. Best musician..underated.. this music is better than all the new music on the radio .thanks for sharing. Rock on !! My band needs a bass player. anyone know anyone?
A wonderful guitarist, incredible piece of music by Bach. Truly Beautiful! And Steve plays classical, rock, blues, and even has music with a definite country vibe. Show me another rock guitarist with such diverse musicality. Love his playing and his interpretation of music.
Who the hell cares if it's Howe, Beck, Page, EC or whoever who folks think is best - they're all brilliant, so just enjoy the damn music. What I love about this film is that Steve looks like a waif-thin Einstein. Superb playing.
Great Steve, thank you for everything you do for fans and not for music and this great instrument: the guitar in all its peculiarities and sounds .. thank you very much for that thanks to you as a boy I started playing the guitar and the passion now that I am 59 years old is unchanged, you never know I hope one day to meet you in person ..... Thanks Again
It's a big pleasure to see Steve Howe leave his country and jazzy leanings that he put forward during many years for a while and come back to the music he also liked : classical... Time was a real success. I should listen to this album more often. Anyway, This beautiful gentle Bach piece is just brilliantly arranged and performed. Hats off!
I suppose Steve hasn't had time to rehearse this. Steve is certainly capable of multiple voicings but here he's simply thumbing the melody line. It is beautifully done all the same. And that guitar sounds so lovely!
What can I say, Master Steve, to thank you for all the joy you've been giving us through your beautiful work? We love you! But words are not enough to expresse how grateful we all are. What a precious heart you have, maestro! Sensibility, precision, love and excellency! Can't everybody hear the angels in heaven singing along with those magic strings?
Perfetto esempio di fusione tra musica rock e musica classica musicisti del livello di Steve Howe hanno le mani fatate semplicemente meraviglioso per il senso di serenità che infonde nell'animo
Steve and his guitar playing are like no other.. So precise tidy clean and clear with every note played. Moving emotions and feelings like words spoken
« Howe was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in Guitar Player magazine five years in a row (1977-1981) and in 1981 was the first rock guitar player inducted into the Guitar Player Hall of Fame » [from his entry in Wikipedia]
This is the true sound of silence, so clear, so vibrant, so modest. Yesterday I listened to the magnificent, and maybe underestimated album Relayer: I heard things never heard before, sounds from another world, still amazing and mysterious, after all these years.
Je ne connaissais le "choral du veilleur" qu'à l'orgue avec ou sans choeur. Je découvre une pure merveille dans cet arrangement avec la guitare subtile de Steve ! Merci aussi à Jean-Sébastien !
Both are superb and there are many who love their playing and their genius. They are also very different which is what makes them individual and gives us the most wonderful variety of music to appreciate admire and love
Thank you Mr. Howe for taking music seriously and bring a little beauty and goodness to so many through the love of harmony and syncopation all through g - u - I - t -a -r.
