LTS Guitar Music     by La Tung-Son

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Andres Segovia	(1893-1987)
	Caprice24 - Paganini
Born in Linares on February 21st 1893 Andre Segovia is perhaps the most influential figure in modern classical guitar. His father intended the young Segovia to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer. He tried many times to divert the boy's attention away from his growing interest in the guitar which at that time was still regarded with some disapproval. Whilst studying at the Granada Institute of Music he explored the instruments past and soon became, under his own tuition, and great virtuoso. Segovia gave his concert debut in 1909 in Granada at the age of 16 and his professional debut in Madrid at the age of 20. After a recital in Paris in 1922 he toured South America and returned to Paris in 1924 to critical acclaim. As his popularity and fame grew he was in great demand on both side of the Atlantic. During the Spanish Civil War he lived in Genoa and then Montevideo, Uruguay. He was created the Marquis of Salobrena by Royal Decree in 1981 and died on June 2nd 1987. Like Francisco Tarrega the influence of Andre Segovia on the profile of classical guitar is immeasurable. His transcriptions of some of the most famous classical works for other instruments (most notable Bach) and his re-interpretation of Spanish guitar compositions, combined with his pristine technical ability, have made him almost solely responsible for the instrument's popularity in the 20th century.