JulianBreamGuitar.com

Favourite Guitar No. 1


Guitar José Romanillos, UK/Spanish builder. (1973) No. 8
Date: Purchased by Bream on 1973
Notes:

  • Built specifically for Julian Bream
  • Copy of a 1930 Hermann Hauser I guitar. [1]
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Julian and John/2 ("Together Again") recorded in June 1973.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Giuliani and Sor recorded in February and March 1974.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Rodrigo and Berkley recorded in November 1974 and May 1975.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Music of Spain, vol. 4 - The Classical Heritage: Sor and Aguado recorded in October and November 1980.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Music of Spain, vol. 5 - Plays Granados and Albéniz recorded in June and July 1982.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Music of Spain, vol. 8 - Joaquín Rodrigo recorded on October 1981, December 1982 and January 1983.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Dedication recorded on October and December 1981 and January 1982.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Music of Spain, vol. 7 - A Celebration of Andrés Segovia recorded on February and May 1983
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album ¡Guitarra! The Guitar in Spain, recorded in 1983/1984. Side 1 Boccherini: Fandango and entire Side 2.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album La Guitarra Romantica recorded in September 1983 and April 1984. Selections 2-6.

Julian Bream's three favourite guitars

Favourite Guitar No. 3


Gary Southwell, UK. No. ___ (200_)
Date acquired: bought in 200_
Notes:

  • Hermann Hauser I replica of the guitar loaned to Julian Bream by Rose Augustine/Augustine Estate.
  • The guitar was commissioned by Julian Bream.
  • This guitar has a resonance of low E.
  • No known recordings with this guitar.
  • This guitar became Bream's number one backup guitar to the Hauser I loaned to him by the Augustine Estate.
  • Guitar taken to the final Wigmore Hall recital along with the Hauser I owned by the Augustine Estate as a possible option for the performance.
  • Guitar taken as a backup to the 2006 recording of Benjamin Brittens' "Nocturnal" at Snape Maltings along with the Hauser I owned by the Augustine Estate
  • This guitar became Bream's favourite guitar after 2008. He used the sister instrument, Southwell No. 240, for daily practice.
  • This guitar was found in a guitar case in the bedroom closet at his home at the time of Julian Bream's passing.
  • This guitar has been bequeathed to the Julian Bream Trust.


Sources:

  • "Remembering Julian Bream", American Lutherie - The Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers, Number 142/Spring 2021, p. _by Cyndy Burton, José Romanillos, R.E. Bruné, Jeffrey R. Elliott, Kevin Aram, Gary Southwell, and Simon Ambridge.
  • ECA/USP GRADUATE COURSE: Conversations with Julian Bream - Prof. Jonathan Leathwood.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u_jTLdjjjg
  • A portion of this information was verified by Gary Southwell. www.southwellguitars.co.uk
  • A portion of the information was verified by Paul Balmer, director for Julian Bream: My Life in Music DVD 2006.

Favourite Guitar No. 2


Hermann Hauser I, Germany (1940)
Date acquired: Loaned to Julian Bream in 1990?
Notes:

  • Loaned to Bream in 1990. Owned by Rose Augustine/Augustine Estate.
  • This guitar has a resonance of low E/E flat.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album To the Edge of Dream: Rodrigo, Takemitsu, Arnold recorded in October 1990, June 1991 and February 1992.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Nocturnal: Britten, Lutoslawski, Martin, Takemitsu and Brouwer recorded in September and October 1992.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album J.S. Bach recorded in October and November 1992.
  • Guitar used for the recording of the album Sonata: Paganini, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, José recorded in November 1993.
  • Guitar used at the final Wigmore Hall recital on the 26th of November, 2001.
  • Guitar used in the 2006 recording of Fernando Sor's "Study in B minor" at Broad Oak for the DVD Julian Bream: My Life in Music.
  • Guitar used in the 2006 recording of Benjamin Brittens' "Nocturnal" at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh for the DVD Julian Bream: My Life in Music.
  • This guitar was loaned to Julian Bream for about 20 years by the Augustine Estate.
  • This guitar remained with Jullian Bream many years into his retirement. It was returned to the Augustine Foundation in 2008.
  • Currently being displayed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/506776

Sources:

  • A portion of the information was verified by the Metropolitan Museum of New York and the Augustine Estate.
  • A portion of the information was verified by Paul Balmer, director for Julian Bream: My Life in Music DVD 2006.

Quote:

  • "Many years ago Rose assigned the instrument to me on the basis of an ongoing loan. I found it hard to repay her for that wonderful gesture, which made me ever more determined to make it sound as eloquent and beautiful as I could" Julian Bream.