Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Classical Guitars of Los Indios Tabajaras



Liner Notes:


The Classical Guitars of Los Indios Tabajaras
Produced by Herman Diaz, Jr.

SIDE A
Valse in A Minor, Op. 34. No. 2 (Chopin) 4:46
Für Elise (Bagatelle in A Minor) (Beethoven) 3:03
Recuerdos de Ia Alhambra (Tarrega) 5:00
Hora Staccato (Dinicu-Heifetz) 2:07

SIDE B
Valse in A-Fiat, Op. 69, No. 1 (Chopin) 3:40
La Ronde des Lutins (Antonio Bazzini) 6:50
Serenata Española (Joaquim Malats) 2:56
Romance de Amor (Vincente Gomez) 1:55

Los Indios Tabajaras:
“Innovators with the Souls of True Musicians”

“Classical guitar” may be a relatively new phenomenon in the history of this very folksy, very popular, very romantic instrument. But there are two old hands who have breathed even newer life into it.
The famous pair: Los Indios Tabajaras, two Brazilian brothers who once knew nothing about classical music and who, in fact, had to make sure their first guitar - an abandoned one they found near home on a jungle path - was not a strange weapon. It wasn’t long before they figured out what it was. Magic in their hands.
Like many a great guitarist, Natalicio and Antenor Lima are self-taught (there were few music professors in the rain forest). But they didn’t stop with simply learning to conquer their new-found strings. Nor did they stop with their own country’s music. Nato and Tenor knew there was a world out there. They knew there was music in it. And they set out to find it, first on foot and then through sheer determination.
It was on to Mexico, on to Europe, and on to the discovery of Western music. And to the discovery of the kind of dedication that has made Los Indios Tabajaras unique in today’s music world.
They heard piano music, and they decided to fashion the kind of guitar that could play all the notes a piano could play - even though they had to build it themselves. They heard classical music, they felt its pulse, and it wasn’t long before Chopin, Beethoven and the great Latin and Romantic composers were a favorite part of their astonishing and always growing repertoire.
Like their repertoire, Los Indios Tabajaras keep growing. From Mexico to Japan to Paris to the renowned Amsterdam Concert-gebouw Orchestra to New York’s Town Hall to American network television; they have created a company of millions of fans. But through all of their successes, they remain perfectionists and something more. They continue to be innovators with the souls of true musicians.
Nowhere, does their genius prove itself more beautifully than in their treatment of the classics. You’ll hear it in the majestic precision or Chopin’s waltzes and be amazed that it took only two great guitarists to create the majesty. In the fantasy flight of Beethoven’s Bagatelle in A Minor. In the quiet fires of Serenata Española and Hora Staccato. And in every mood gentled by the guitars of Los Indios Tabajaras.
Los Indios Tabajaras have discovered the world and mastered its music in every delicious variety.
If you haven’t yet discovered Los Indios Tabajaras, do it now. And let them take you to wonderful places where the guitar has never sung so proudly.

Nancy Lawrence

Recorded in RCA’s Studio “B” and “C,” New York City, 1974
Recording Engineer: Ed Begley
Photographer: David B. Hecht
Art Director: Acy Lehman

6 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for this incredible album, I had it in cassette format and the sound wasn't so good, but here your support sounds amazing and pristine.

    Greetings and thanks once again for the great work in this album.

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  2. Hi Slayer, thanks for your comment. When I found the album, I had heard of Los Indios Tabajaras, but had never heard their music. I couldn't believe my ears when I listened to it and realised that the record was in good condition. It had obviously been cared for by the previous owner. Digitising the album was a real pleasure and I was very happy with as you say, "sounds amazing and pritine". Thanks again.

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  3. Same story here... I have it on an old casette (which makes all kinds of strange noises). So I was quite happy to discover this page through Google. Unfortunately, dear old Rapidshare has deleted it...

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  4. Nik, I too want to thank you for sharing this beautiful album. I used to listen to it as a youngster in the late 70's. It was this album in particular that got me interested in classical guitar. I've wanted to purchase this album for a long time, but haven't been able to find one in good condition. Once again, thank you for sharing this excellect work.

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  5. I had this tape when i was just 13 and loved this arrangement but for years had no idea what the songs were...when i listened to valse opus 34 n 2 I knew I would somehow find the cd. Thank you!

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  6. Félix Pedro Ramos AcostaJune 19, 2018 at 6:16 AM

    Lamento tener sólo 3 ó 4 grabaciones de estos grandes guitarristas, una de ella muy bien lograda, la famosa Dos guitarras, canción folklórica rusa anónima

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