In Memoriam|

Julian Bream (from Wikipedia)

From Danny Masters Gorklo on Facebook: My hero has died. In my opinion, the greatest classical guitarist whom I have ever heard. He was divinely human. From what I know of him a bit of a rockstar. He made music speak and his interpretations were absolute genius. He loved everything from Renaissance music to modern classical greats, flamenco and jazz. I was just listening to him this morning, Villa Lobos etude # 8. After listening to four other very fine guitarist play the piece, I listen to Bream play again and I thought “Yeah, that’s how you do it.”

Read what he said in his interview about why he does music and understand true artistry.

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Classical guitarist and lute player Julian Bream has died at his home in Wiltshire at the age of 87.

The virtuoso musician performed globally during his heyday, and was renowned for his recordings of new compositions and masterclasses.

He won four Grammy Awards and received 20 nominations between 1960 and 85.

A self-taught musician, Bream learned playing to radio dance bands with the lute his father bought from a sailor on London’s Charing Cross Road in 1947.

As a child prodigy, his early recitals led to him being “acknowledged as one of the most remarkable artists of the post-war era”, according to the Royal Academy of Music.

After studying piano and composition at the Royal College of Music, and completing national service, he became one of the most prolific and best-selling recording artists in classical music.

He was made an OBE in 1964 and a CBE in 1985. His repertoire included new works by composers including Benjamin Britten, Sir William Walton and Sir Michael Tippett.

British cultural commentator and journalist Norman Lebrecht expressed his “sadness” at Bream’s death.

Prestigious London venue Wigmore Hall called Bream “one of the greatest guitarists of all time”, adding: “Julian gave his first performance at Wigmore Hall in 1951. He will be greatly missed. RIP.”

German classical guitarist Heike Matthiesen called the musician “My idol, my lifelong inspiration as musician and artist”, while Helen Sanderson, director of National Youth Guitar Ensemble, said Bream was “my hero forever”.

Bream’s passion for the Elizabethan lute resulted in him being given solo recitals in concert halls around the world, as well as programmes of poetry and music with the actress Dame Peggy Ashcroft.

Read the whole interview here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53777949?

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Julian Alexander Bream CBE (15 July 1933 – 14 August 2020) was an English virtuoso classical guitarist and lutenist.

One of the most distinguished classical guitarists of the 20th century, he played a significant role in improving the public perception of the classical guitar as a respectable instrument. Over the course of a career that spanned more than half a century, Bream helped revive interest in the lute.

Bream died on 14 August 2020, at his home at Donhead St Andrew, at the age of 87.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Bream

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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…

The deaths that are listed from Wikipedia are those of musicians or who have ties to the music business from all over the world. These are our brothers and sisters. Say a prayer for their souls. They will be missed greatly.

August 2020
19: Todd Nance, 57, American drummer (Widespread Panic).

Todd Nance (November 20, 1962 – August 19, 2020) was an American musician. He was best known as the original drummer of Widespread Panic, a band he was a member of until his departure in 2016. He struggled with chronic illness for the remainder of his life ultimately leading up to his death in 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Nance

18: Steve Gulley, 57, American bluegrass singer-songwriter, pancreatic cancer; Sean Pentecost, Australian metal drummer (Superheist).

17: Jasraj, 90, Indian classical vocalist, cardiac arrest.

14: Howell Binkley, 64, American lighting designer (Hamilton, Jersey Boys, In the Heights), Tony winner (2006, 2016), lung cancer; Julian Bream, 87, English classical guitarist and lutenist; Ewa Demarczyk, 79, Polish singer and poet; Sonny Fox, 73, American disc jockey (Sirius XM, WKIS, WJMK), liver failure; Valentina Legkostupova, 54, Russian pop singer, Merited Artist of the Russian Federation (2001); Pete Way, 69, English rock bass guitarist (UFO, Waysted, Fastway), injuries sustained in accident.

Peter Frederick Way (August 7, 1951– August 14, 2020) was an English hard rock and heavy metal bass player. He was bassist for the band UFO from 1968 to 1982; Way rejoined the band briefly in 1988–1989, and full-time from 1991 to 2008. He was also a founding member of Waysted and Fastway and notably played with Michael Schenker Group and Ozzy Osbourne.

Way died on August 14, 2020 at the age of 69 one week after his birthday, following life-threatening injuries he had sustained in an accident two months earlier. He is survived by his wife Jenny, two daughters Zowie and Charlotte and younger brother Neill.

Way died just ten weeks after his former UFO bandmate and guitarist Paul Chapman, and one year after keyboardist Paul Raymond, leaving vocalist Phil Mogg and drummer Andy Parker as the only surviving members of the No Place to Run lineup.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Way

13: Steve Grossman, 69, American jazz saxophonist; Gulnazar Keldi, 74, Tajik lyricist (“Surudi Milli”) and poet.

12: Carlos Burity, 67, Angolan musician

11: Belle du Berry, 54, French singer (Paris Combo), cancer; Pat Fairley, 76, Scottish bassist and singer (Marmalade); Rahat Indori, 70, Indian lyricist (Khuddar, Mission Kashmir, Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities) and poet, COVID-19; Trini Lopez, 83, American singer (“If I Had a Hammer”, “Lemon Tree”) and actor (The Dirty Dozen), COVID-19.

http://www.wikipedia.com

 

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