by Robert Leeper
Photo credit: Naoya Ikegami
As the story goes, Pepe Romero's father, Celedonio Romero, played him into this world with music by Bach, and when Celedonio was on his deathbed, Pepe was there to play him out (with Bach, of course). So as you might imagine that when Pepe Romero kicked off the New York Guitar Festival with an all-Bach program Friday night at Brookfield Place (formerly known as the WFC Wintergarden), it was an emotional affair for him. Celedonio would have been proud.
Romero began the evening with a few hiccups during the Prelude in C minor (transcribed by Celedonio himself), taking a piece that's supposed to flow smoothly at cutthroat speed. The deep, resonant bass was not allowed to linger before he was on to the next one.
Things improved significantly from there, particularly the Partita for Violin, BWV 1004, in Pepe's own transcription for guitar. It is truly an epic work in scope, requiring chops and pure stamina to pull off, which Romero did in fine style (though he did have to pull out a handkerchief and wipe his brow during a pause). His scales were crisp and clean, matched only by perfectly balanced chords and facile transitions from scalar wizardry to gentle, lullaby-like simplicity. Despite the fact that Romero turns 70 this year, the fire never left him for a moment, straight through to the final chords of the titanic "Chaconne."
The other highlight of the night was an original by Celedonio, which Pepe played as an encore—a masterwork of Spanish-style baroque guitar with fierce rhythmic strumming, drumming, and even a bit of tapping.
At this stage, what can someone possibly bring to a piece by Bach that someone else already hasn't? In Mr. Romero's case, he brought a history, a touch, a feel that has seeped into his fingers. In other words, he brought family. Maybe this writer is just a sucker for a good story, but there is a certain ephemeral quality in Bach's music that requires a special kind of soulfulness to perform. Whatever it is, Pepe has it.
You can read more about Romero's thoughts on Bach in this interview he did with William Kanengiser. More info on other New York guitar Festival events here.