Felix Manzanero knew what he wanted to do at age 14, to make guitars. he learned and worked at Ramirez shop until Jan 10, 1964 and opened his own on Sept of 1964. I met him then next year and remained good friends for the last 50+. We visited him during our Golden Anniversary and had a great time reminiscing about old times. He passed on Aug 19,2019 and his son Ivan has carried on the lineage of great guitar making. I purchased Ivan’s 1st guitar since reopening.I ordered a Flamenco style guitar because I wanted one with the wooden pegs like the first guitars. I have been playing to break it in and it sounds of the quality his father would make. He will be greatly missed.
Category Archives: Classical guitar
Back from Spain
Here I am in Felix Manzanero’s shop in Madrid, Spain.this 2nd photo is me, my wife of 50 years, along with Felix and his wife Soli. Sad but he is mostly blind and does not make any more precious instruments.
University and College guitar teachers/students
New videos posted
Dear Fans; Check this out, it is a good one. I have posted on youtube a new video performing one of my originals that is very flamenco. Here is the link: http://youtu.be/Fhxet2YK_M4 also filmed in a secret tunnel in Hawaii my 5 finger tremolo piece named ‘Reflections’ ; http://youtu.be/RfcuqPwBKpU
Enjoy
Gil Piger
be a fan on Jango
you can sign up as a fan and get updates and most important, tidbits about my music. I also inform of my travels – one coming up to Hawaii. why not check it out and become a fan!
new music post
I just posted to Jango or RadioAirplay.com my “Ode to Paco” which is dedicated to Paco de Lucia who passed this last Wednesday. I met him back in 1986 and wrote this shortly after. He never heard it but I felt compiled to share it with all. Please enjoy
Gil
Sample my music
For those who have checked out jango.com or RadioAirplay.com where one of my latest pieces is being heard, you can sign up as a fan, whereas I can email updates to [my fans] all at once. Anyway if anyone wishes to sample any of my recorded music you can at:
https://www.facebook.com/gpiger/app_470868196288052
Enjoy
Gil
Piger
Music clarification
A Guitar Music Clarification
By GIL PIGER
In my thirty some years of teaching and performing I have encountered a
plethora of guitar related misinformation. Segovia himself was responsible for much of this misinformation. He would edit pieces and then turn then over for print sometimes with wrong notes, added or missing, as well as fingerings. He would do this so he could say, “he was the only one who played it correctly”. An example of this is in “Pieces caracteristiques” [character pieces] by Torroba. When Segovia recorded these pieces he added and deleted what should or shouldn’t be there. Prime example of this is the 3rd of this set of 6 pieces. In the published version G.A. 133, the 3rd piece is printed as “melodia” a slow tremolo piece.
This piece doesn’t even belong to this set, whereas the ‘old man’ as we used to call him, plays instead “Cancion” which is in actually “Burgalesa” G.A. 113. However “Burgalesa” is published in the key of F#, whereas “Cancion” is in the key of E.
Here is the correct version in the key of E.
If anyone wishes the complete piece or more information on this whole set, then you will have to take a lesson from me.