John Williams
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John was born in 1941 in Melborne, Australia. His father originally from England was a respected Jazz and classical guitarist. John was taught guitar from about the age of 6. | John was born in 1941 in Melborne, Australia. His father originally from England was a respected Jazz and classical guitarist. John was taught guitar from about the age of 6. | ||
| + | At the age of 11 John relocated to London where hi father Len set up a sucessful guitar school. Through this they met Andres Segovia who was impressed with John and arranged for him to attend his summer school at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana di Siena in Italy. John returned annually until 1959. Segovia said of Johns playing, "God has laid a finger on his brow". | ||
| + | Between 1956 and 1959 John attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied piano and music theory. He was unable to study guitar at the RCM as they did not have a guitar department. | ||
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| + | John Williams made his professional debut at the Wigmore Hall in London on 6th November 1958 | ||
== Music Career == | == Music Career == | ||
Revision as of 20:15, 27 September 2009
John Williams is a classical guitarist of note and should not be confused with the other John Williams who composes music for countless movies. John is probably best known for his version of Cavatina played on classical guitar which was a massive hit and was used as the theme song to the film The Deer Hunter starring Robert De Niro and for his work with the rock/classical fusion band Sky.
Contents |
Early Life
John was born in 1941 in Melborne, Australia. His father originally from England was a respected Jazz and classical guitarist. John was taught guitar from about the age of 6.
At the age of 11 John relocated to London where hi father Len set up a sucessful guitar school. Through this they met Andres Segovia who was impressed with John and arranged for him to attend his summer school at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana di Siena in Italy. John returned annually until 1959. Segovia said of Johns playing, "God has laid a finger on his brow".
Between 1956 and 1959 John attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied piano and music theory. He was unable to study guitar at the RCM as they did not have a guitar department.
John Williams made his professional debut at the Wigmore Hall in London on 6th November 1958
Music Career
Pre Sky
Sky
Post Sky
Guitars
In the early part of his career John used guitars made by IGNACIO FLETA. A 1961 example of these guitars used by John Williams was recently auvtioned in London and was sold for $74,000.
Since early in the 1980s John has used custom made guitars by Australian luthier Greg Smallman. Smallman guitars are much in demand and I believe there is a long waiting list to obtain one. John chooses these because of their excellent treble response. This is achieved by using an extremely thin top (cedar in the case of guitars used by John Williams), which is supported by a lattice-style bracing system made of balsa wood and carbon fibre. The back and sides are laminated rosewood and are very stiff which helps achieve good volume and bass response.
For strings John uses D'Addario Pro Arté EJ46LP strings with lightly polished composite bass strings. The polishing of the strings helps to reduce finger noise.
With Sky I believe he used an Ovation nylon string.
Discography
Pre Sky
Sky
Post Sky
