Q: Why did you write Classical Guitarists: Conversations?

A: I wanted to write a book not about the classical guitar, but about the world-renowned classical guitarists who bring the instrument to life.

Q: What makes them so interesting?

A: To reach the top of their profession, classical guitarists must be creative, so they can convey the intentions of a composer while expressing those intentions in their own unique style. But they must also be analytical, so they can understand the complex structure of the music they play and to solve the technical problems of playing that music on a challenging instrument.

Q: Anything else?

A: Classical guitarists must be successful entrepreneurs because, despite the assistance of artist managers and publicity agents, the guitarists alone must chart and navigate the course of their careers. Most importantly, classical guitarists must love what they do—because in this specialized music market the words “rich and famous” are relative terms.

Q: Why is this book special?

A: I wrote this book to capture the essence of these extraordinary individuals in their own words. Much of what they think and feel has never been captured in print—and certainly not in one volume. Taken together, these interviews provide a unique perspective on the similarities and differences among these distinguished artists. Here they reveal their passions and pursuits, and in so doing give us a deeper understanding of the classical guitar and of classical music.

Q: How did you choose the artists?

A: The performers in this book are a select group of classical guitarists at the peak of their artistic prowess. In their own way, each has made important contributions to the classical guitar, from commissioning new repertoire and establishing significant academic programs, to broadening the audience for the instrument.

Q: Are these the only interviews in the book?

A: To give additional perspective on the performers, the book also includes interviews with the most important artist manager in the history of the classical guitar and some of the classical guitar’s key composers in the latter part of the twentieth century.

Q: Tell us about the interviews.

A: In the spirit of the in-depth, memorable interviews that have distinguished such publications as the Paris Review and Playboy, the interviews in this book are probing and wide-ranging. The long-form interview compels the interviewees to go beyond prepared soundbites, to speak openly and thoughtfully about their accomplishments, opportunities and lessons learned. It obliges them to talk not just about what they’ve done, but how they’ve done it and why.

Q: Does the book contain anything other than interviews?

A: Each performer’s interview is accompanied by my reviews of some of their most important recordings and New York City concerts, along with a discography of their recordings. I've also included an introductory chapter on classical guitarists from the middle ages to the present day, along with a brief history of the evolution of the guitar itself. The final chapter explains how to create a basic repertoire of classical guitar recordings by the artists featured in the book.

Q: How can the book be purchased?

A: Orders can be placed through amazon. com and McFarland & Company.

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