Guitar Gallery

The two Fleta guitars offered here represent the highest achievement of the guitar maker's art. Not only are they the finest possible examples, but having been owned and used worldwide by John Williams during the '60s and '70s ranks them among the most famous classical guitars of the twentieth century, save perhaps for Segovia's Hermann Hauser and Manuel Ramirez, which now reside in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

The guitars, 1961 spruce and Indian rosewood, No. 235 (used for the famous recordings of the Chaconne, Caprice 24, Valses Poetico and, Cordoba, amongst others) and 1972 cedar and Indian rosewood No. 609 (used for recordings such as the complete Lute works of Bach) are featured on the ABC Eloquence CD, "Guitar Romance" played by the current owner, Jason Waldron.

Accompanying sound bytes feature track 12, "18th variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", using the 1961 guitar, and track 3, "Ella no me ama" using the 1972 guitar. Guitar Romance, (ABC Eloquence No. 454517-2) is available only through www.abc.net.au and www.buywell.com.

The modern concern guitar has evolved from various plucked instruments of many cultures over hundreds of years. This long history culminated in nineteenth century Spain through the genius of Antonio de Torres (1817-1892) who finally established the shape and structural design of the present day guitar. It is a testimony to Torres that some of the finest guitars built today are direct copies of instruments he made over 100 years ago.

One maker who used Torres as inspiration was the great Barcelona luthier Ignacio Fleta (1897-1977). Fleta was an accomplished violin, cello and guitar maker who, after hearing the great Andres Segovia in the '50s decided to concentrate almost entirely on the construction of concert guitars. Segovia and several other concert artists starting using Fletas and soon has name was established alongside those of Hauser, Bouchet and Hernandez y Aguado as one of the greatest makers of the modern era.

Ignacio Fleta has been described as the 'Stradivarius of the guitar'. This description is particularly apt as Fleta borrowed many constructional ideas from his violin making background such as the arm to body dovetail joint, a radical departure from the 'Spanish' method of building the arm and body as one unit during construction. This, together with inspirational ideas for internal strutting and top thicknessing, proved instrumental in achieving the distinct Fleta sound.

In the mid '60s Fleta, along with several other makers, began to substitute the traditional European spruce soundboard for that of American cedar. The 1961 and 1972 guitars, previously used by John Williams for concert and recording work, represent the zenith of these major periods of Fleta's work and are two of the finest concert guitars ever made.

Still being constructed in Barcelona by his sons Francisco and Gabriel, Fleta guitars, like Stradivarius violins and Steinway pianos, continue to be one of the first choices for concert and recording artists to this day.

Ignacio Fleta best described the exquisite sound of his guitars when he expressed that it was his aim to give the guitar a 'human' voice - a philosophy surely attained and to be enjoyed now and for generations to come.

Jason Waldron is one of Australia's most prominent classical guitarists. Initial studies in Adelaide with John Della-Torre were followed by advanced tuition with Dr. Peter Calvo at the Sydney Spanish Guitar Centre and master classes with Oscar Caceres, Turibio Santos, Alirio Diaz and John Williams.

A 1979 recital in London's famed Wigmore Hall was followed by concerts in Australia and the USA, including the American premiere of the Guillermo Flores Mendez Guitar Concerto with members of the Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra during the 1987 Santa Fe Guitar Festival.

Jason's contribution to the development of the guitar in Australia has been considerable, particularly in the area of teaching. Jason has given masterclasses across the country and overseas.

Apart from his teaching position at the University of Adelaide, Jason is actively involved in music publication including three volumes of guitar works by Agustin Barrios Mangore for Allans Music, and the highly successful 'Guitar Method' and 'Popular Classics of the Great Composers' series for LTP Publications.