Julian Bream Quotes

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Julian Bream

Profession : Musician

Birth : July 15, 1933

I don't mean this to sound pretentious but I think that artists of all kinds are a rung up the ladder of the spiritual heirarchy, and for me there is something very religious about music.

Julian Bream

When I began playing the lute, in 1950 there were not too many lutenists around. I had to work hard, writing out music in museums and libraries. It was before the days of photocopying. And I had just picked up the lute, adapted my guitar technique to it and went from there.

Julian Bream

It takes a lifetime and a half to master the classical guitar.

Julian Bream

I like to play the lute full-bloodedly, with passion, as well as with delicacy and, I hope, refinement.

Julian Bream

One thing you learn very rapidly in this business is that you are part of a continuing tradition.

Julian Bream

There is no piece of guitar music that has the formal beauty of a piano sonata by Mozart, or the richly worked out ideas and passion of a late Beethoven string quartet, or for that matter the beautiful mellifluous poetry of a Chopin Ballade.

Julian Bream

I much rather coach a string quartet in an interpretation of Haydn or Beethoven than to teach the guitar.

Julian Bream

Segovia was a Spaniard and it seemed natural that he should play the guitar.

Julian Bream

Some specialist guitar music is not of the highest intellectual calibre, so I must make it sound as though it is. If it bores me, it certainly won't please an audience.

Julian Bream

If the orchestra's not enjoying itself, the concerto will not succeed, with the players confined to using half an inch of bow.

Julian Bream

I don't do much relaxing. When I'm not giving a recital I practise.

Julian Bream

Whatever it is, music should sound spontaneous, I've derived a great deal of pleasure from playing jazz and having the knowledge of that spontaneity.

Julian Bream

I learned mainly by listening to Andres Segovia and that was a great inspiration. And also the gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Julian Bream

Using modern guitar techniques and modern methods on an early instrument is not a very clever thing to do, because it is the authentic spirit of the instrument that should dictate the quality and characteristic of the sound.

Julian Bream

I'm quite reflective - I listen to music, I read, I walk with Django.

Julian Bream

I have cut away what I call the excess stuff in my life.

Julian Bream

I've had a lovely life. I've had a great life.

Julian Bream

I was mostly self-taught on guitar and that had its benefits. It's a great thing to work through problems on your own.

Julian Bream

The Nocturnal' was very nearly beyond me.

Julian Bream

In 1984, I was contacted by Michael Taylor, who had won a commission from a sponsor and decided he would like to paint a picture of me. I agreed to do it, because I'm not unused to sitting for portraits: my father was a commercial artist and I used to model for him.

Julian Bream