BubCar2 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Bream played the lute with his fingernails, which is very much out of favour with the "orthodox" lutenists of today.It's interesting to note that Benjamin Britten was very eager to compose music for the lute, but Bream persuaded him to compose for the guitar instead, because so few people played the lute in those days.

wholehand (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

What is interesting and a bit sad about all this is that Stravinsky was turned down by Segovia when he had earlier offered to write something for the guitar. Segovia is reported to have said that he would "never do him the injustice by not playing his music," or some such nonsense. Segovia's musical conservatism blinded him to the greatness of Stravinsky, though, in a way acknowledging that very greatness in his refusal. Even Bream's virtuosity failed to win over the maestro.

sweetnocturnes (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

A legend.One of the greatest musicians of all time.

franzzzzi (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

lol :-)

paulostroff99 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Great historical stories,music, and pictures of a wonderful meeting of two great minds

olishant (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Julian: I would like to show you a composition I wrote for the Lute.Igor: I have no time.Julian: Oh, well, would you like to look at my lute?Igor: No.Julian: Here it is, and this is what it sounds like...unfortunately I'm not very good at tuning it.Igor: Very nice. Now leave me alone.Julian: and this is the song I wrote...Igor: Now I'll never get to read my newspaper.

c06031983 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I know this predates the song, I was making a joke. It was a very funny coincidence. :)

gentlemantim (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

c06031983,I believe this documentary is from 1965 so sadly it's just a coincidence. . . "Iron Man" wasn't released until 1970.

Gitanoz (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

It now well documented that the guitar is a decendent from the Roman Tambur a 4-stringed instrument which later became the Guitarra Latina a flat-backed guitar-like instrument,followed by the Vihuela which was really a 6-course guitar, followed by the Baroque guitar, followed by the romantic guitar and then the modern classical guitar.Bandurrias are more related to the mandolin family which came later. Lutes are decendants of the Arabic Ud and are not related to guitars.

c06031983 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

hahaha LISTEN CLOSELY to the lute from 1:48-1:51, Bream plays the opening notes of the aong "Iron Man". Thats funny. I can forgive him for all his other faults in this video because of those 3 seconds. :)