AgustÃn Barrios MangoréWhen speaking of the guitar in the 20th century, one illustrious name usually is placed above all others: Andrés Segovia. There is however a name I would place above his: AgustÃn Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944). Barrios was not only a master guitarist, but something Segovia never was: a master composer. It is said that there was a bit of jealousy on SegoviaÂ’s part towards his Native American contemporary from Paraguay. Despite several friendly encounters between Segovia and Barrios in the 1920s in Buenos Aires, Segovia displayed jealousy for his superior that later turned into malice. AgustÃn Barrios, considered by many as the greatest guitar-composer of the 20th century, ”was not a good composer for the guitar” according to the grouchy Spanish diva. The naive Barrios was none the wiser, playing his own compositions for Segovia at the latterÂ’s residence, ”which pleased him greatly,” as he wrote to his brother MartÃn. ”There wasnÂ’t the slightest hint of petulence between us.” Barrios had given Segovia a dedicated copy of the sheet music to his masterpiece, La Catedral, which he took back to Spain with him, supposedly to play in his concerts. BarriosÂ’ friend, the Uruguayan guitarist Miguel Herrera Klinger, wrote: ”If he [Segovia] had played it [La Catedral], with the extraordinary abilities he possessed, he would have elevated Barrios to inaccessible heights, thus detracting from his own artistic prestige.” Of course, Segovia did not include La Catedral in his programs. (Six Silver Moonbeams, Richard Stover)
Some of my favs:
www.classicalguitarmidi.com/civibus/Barrios_Mangore_Sueno_Floresta.midwww.geocities.com/nikitos_bar/barrios_cueca.midwww.geocities.com/nikitos_bar/barrios_v3.mid