Andres Segovia is touted as the father of the Classical Guitar, and he did great work in establishing the guitar as a serious concert instrument. However the average person might not know about the great Latin American Classical Guitar composers.
This is the first in a series of articles on these great masters of the classical guitar. What made them so exemplary was the combination of the European classical tradition and the local music of their countries.
It is said that music is the food of the soul, and no one understood this better than Agustín Barrios. In the history of Latin music, Agustín Barrios is one of the most adored classical guitarists of all time.
A Life Rooted in Music
Agustín Barrios, the South American maestro of classical guitar, was born in the year 1885 in San Bautista de las Misiones in southern Paraguay. He had seven siblings, all of whom loved music. His parents, Doroteo Barrios and Martina Ferreira, were both into music and literature — his mother even played the guitar.
Agustín's love and passion for music and literature started when he was just a child. His family was mainly his inspiration. Apart from music and literature, he learned to speak Spanish and Guaraní and was able to read English, German and French at a tender age.
The Making of a Maestro
As a teen, Agustín developed an interest in musical instruments — especially the guitar — and was discovered by classical guitarist Gustavo Sosa Escalada, who became his teacher. Gustavo saw Barrios' passion and advised him to pursue formal study. This led Agustín to become one of the youngest students to join the university in Paraguayan history — only 15 years old when he entered the Universidad Nacional de Asunción in 1901 on a music scholarship. He excelled in music and was appreciated by the mathematics, literature and journalism departments.
300 Compositions and a Life on Tour
His musical journey began after college when he composed over 300 songs. He toured extensively through South America, giving out signed copies of songs and poems to friends and fans. Since he was deeply in love with literature, he gave himself a pseudonym: Nitsuga Mangoré — a combination of Agustín spelled backwards and Mangoré, a name referring to a leader in the indigenous tribes of South America.
Besides being known to perform in traditional Paraguayan dress, Barrios was also famous for making the best music recordings in Paraguay.
His work was written in late-Romantic style and was inspired by South American and Central American folk music. His La Catedral — one of his greatest works — was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach.
A Living Legacy
Today, Agustín Barrios' work is highly appreciated in Paraguay. Among his best work: Cueca, Julia Florida, Danza Paraguaya, and London Karape. His work has inspired countless young guitarists and poets across the region.
There is no doubt that Agustín Barrios is one of the greatest classical guitarists and composers in Paraguayan history — and in the history of the classical guitar itself.