Agustín Barrios
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Agustín Pío Barrios (also known as Agustín Barrios Mangoré and Nitsuga—Agustin spelled backward—Mangoré; May 5, 1885 – August 7, 1944) was a Paraguayan
virtuoso A virtuoso (from Italian ''virtuoso'' or , "virtuous", Late Latin ''virtuosus'', Latin ''virtus'', "virtue", "excellence" or "skill") is an individual who possesses outstanding talent and technical ability in a particular art or field such a ...
classical guitarist This is a list of classical guitarists. Baroque (17th and 18th centuries) 19th century 20th century https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAPUbFDFJfxY2qijBIG2Og?view_as=subscriberModern See also * List of flamenco guitarists References ...
and composer, largely regarded as one of the greatest performers and most prolific composers for the guitar.


Biography


Birthplace

It has been generally accepted that Barrios was born in
San Juan Bautista, Paraguay San Juan Bautista (), capital of the Department of Misiones, Paraguay, is considered the cradle of the religious mission culture. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones. Geography San Juan Baut ...
. However, there is no definitive proof of this as his baptismal document found in the book of registries in the cathedral in San Juan Bautista does not state his precise place of birth. Also, several biographers and authorities present convincing documented evidence that Barrios was actually born in the nearby town of Villa Florida, Misiones, situated on the Tebicuary River some 30  km north of San Juan Bautista. His diplomatic papers found in 2019 did not shed any light on this question as they listed only "Missiones" as the place of birth.


Early life

As a child, Barrios developed a love of music and literature, two arts that were very important to his family. Barrios would eventually speak two languages (Spanish and Guarani), and read three others (English, French, and German). Barrios began to show an interest in musical instruments, particularly the guitar, before he reached his teens. He went to
Asunción Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of ...
in 1900, at the age of fifteen, to attend Colegio Nacional de Asunción, thus becoming one of the youngest university students in Paraguayan history. Apart from his studies in the music department, Barrios was highly appreciated by members of the mathematics, journalism and literature departments. He was a skilled graphic artist and worked for a time in the Agricultura bank and the Paraguayan Naval office. After leaving the Colegio Nacional, Barrios dedicated his life to music, poetry, and travel. He composed more than 100 original works and arranged another 200 works of other composers. Barrios made several friends during his many trips across South America. He was known for giving his friends and fans signed copies of his poems. As a consequence, there are several versions of his poetical works that have surfaced across the Americas. Many current collectors warn potential buyers to be careful when they come across a work reportedly autographed by Barrios because of known forgeries.


Career

Barrios was famed for his phenomenal performances, both live and on gramophone recordings. Eye-witness testimony from Lope Texera in Caracas Venezuela on April 18, 1932, declared that Barrios was "superior to Segovia whom I saw in London last year". Barrios has been credited as the first classical guitarist to make recordings, in 1909/10, but the earliest known recording were by guitarists Luis and Simon Ramirez, onto
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, for the "Viuda de Aramburo" label, in Madrid, between 1897 and 1901. Barrios sometimes performed in concert in traditional Paraguayan dress (he was partly of Guaraní origin), beginning in 1932 using the pseudonym of Nitsuga Mangoré ('Nitsuga' being Agustín spelled backwards, and 'Mangoré' being the name of a
cacique A ''cacique'' (Latin American ; ; feminine form: ''cacica'') was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, the indigenous inhabitants at European contact of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The term is a S ...
of the South American indigenous group Timbú). His works were largely late- Romantic in character, despite his having lived well into the twentieth century. Many of them are also adaptations of, or are influenced by, South American and Central American folk music. Many of them are considered virtuosic. The
Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...
-inspired ''La Catedral'', from 1921, is widely considered to be Barrios' magnum opus, even winning the approval of
Andrés Segovia Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987) was a Spanish virtuoso classical guitarist. Many professional classical guitarists were students of Segovia or their students. Segovia's contribution to the m ...
, who said "In 1921 in Buenos Aires, I played at the hall La Argentina noted for its good acoustics for guitar, where Barrios had concertized just weeks before me. He was presented to me by his secretary Elbio Trapani. At my invitation Barrios visited me at the hotel and played for me upon my very own guitar several of his compositions among which the one that really impressed me was a magnificent concert piece ''The Cathedral'' whose first movement is an andante, like an introduction and prelude, and a second very virtuosic piece which is ideal for the repertory of any concert guitarist. Barrios had promised to send me immediately a copy of the work (I had ten days remaining before continuing my journey) but I never received a copy." However, it is equally possible that Segovia did receive the score and chose not to play it, either out of distaste for Barrios' folk-based music or professional jealousy (because Barrios was more of a composer than he was).


Later life and death

After touring Europe in 1934-35, Barrios performed in Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. Several writers have suggested that Barrios revisited Mexico in 1939, but his immigration file with the Mexican government did not include an entry for him or his wife Gloria that year. He fulfilled his dream to reach the United States after getting an entry visa at the US Embassy in Maracaibo Venezuela on December 23, 1936. Ship passenger lists reveal that Barrios and his wife travelled as diplomats and arrived in Puerto Rico, a US territory, in January 1937. He reportedly suffered a
myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
in front of the US Embassy in Guatemala City on October 27,1939, after it was discovered that he was travelling with phony diplomatic papers issued by his lifetime friend and Patron Tomas Salomoni. Having recently been in Germany, at the lead-in to the Second World War, Barrios was never again able to use his diplomatic connections. He was sent an invitation to leave Guatemala because of his political leanings. He accepted the invitation of Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, then President of El Salvador, to move to El Salvador and take up a position in the Conservatory and Declamation Rafael Olmedo. He was never to leave El Salvador. Past biographers suggested that, on August 7, 1944, he suffered a second
myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
which caused his death, but this is still undetermined. A forensic physician has suggested that his death was more likely due to poisoning. At the time, Barrios' wife was carrying on an open affair with the Italian coffee plantation owner Pasquale Cosarelli, who was also residing in the Barrios household. Cosarelli was soon to marry Barrios' widow, and had both the motive and the chemicals to carry out the murder. Barrios was buried at Cementerio de Los Ilustres, having been carried there in the hottest week of the year on the shoulders of his students. In the hours after his death, his handwritten scores were stolen by his students along with his scrapbooks.


Legacy


Twelve "Mangoreanos"

During his career. Barrios taught his patrons Luis Pasquet, Martin Borda Pagola, Dionisio Basualdo, Bautista and Lalyta Almiron, and Raul Borges. Following his extensive travels in Brazil, while he was an active performer and beginning in 1940, he wrote his guitar method to provide guitar instruction after arriving in El Salvador to selected students, mostly of Salvadoran nationality. They were known as the Twelve Mangoreanos: Luis Mario Samayoa ( -1969), Benjamín Cisneros ( -1987), Rubén Urquilla ( -1993), René Cortés-Andrino ( -1995), Mario Cardona Lazo ( -1999), Jesús Quiroa ( -2001), Jose Cándido Morales ( -2002), Julio Cortés-Andrino ( -2006), Cecilio Orellana ( -2007), Roberto Bracamontes ( -2007), Víctor Urrutia ( -2010) and Elena Valdivieso. Jose Cándido Morales and Roberto Bracamonte were the only ones to learn from Barrios as live-in students in the Barrios home, which functioned as a boarding house. After Barrios' death, Morales remained the keeper of Barrios' legacy, technique and late works.


Folk music

The folk music of Paraguay (including the polca paraguaya and
vals Vals is the word for waltz in many European languages. Vals or VALS may also refer to: * Peruvian waltz * Venezuelan waltz * Vals (dance), a dance related to Argentine tango * VALS, "Values And Lifestyles," a psychographic segmentation tool Place ...
) provided the young Barrios with his first introduction to music. In 1898, Barrios was formally introduced to the classical guitar repertoire by Gustavo Sosa Escalada. At that time, Barrios may have already composed works for the guitar, and also performed pieces written by his other composers, such as ''La Chinita'' and ''La Perezosa''. Under the influence of his new teacher, Barrios went on to perform and study the works of Tárrega, Viñas,
Sor Sor may refer to: * Fernando Sor (1778–1839), Spanish guitarist and composer * Sor, Ariège, a French commune * SOR Libchavy, a Czech bus manufacturer * Sor, Azerbaijan, a village * Sor, Senegal, an offshore island * Sor River, a river in th ...
and Aguado. Sosa Escalada was so impressed with his new pupil that he convinced Barrios's parents to let him move to Asunción to continue his education. Having already surpassed the technical and performing abilities of most guitarists, Barrios began seriously to compose around 1905. Among the folkloric influences, Barrios is known to have played such popular Paraguayan works as "Campamento Cerro León", "Londón Carapé", ''"Guyrá campana"'', "Mamá Cumandá". As an example, "Guyrá campana" is very interesting, since some of the material can be heard in parts of Barrios' recording of "Caazapá — Aire Popular Paraguayo". Though "Guyrá campana" is traditional music, many maintain that it is very closely related to guitarist Carlos Talavera (from Caazapá), whom Barrios knew. There are various versions of "Guyrá campana" (it is also known as "Pájaro campana") e.g. for Paraguayan harp ( Félix Pérez Cardozo); in some versions, the birdsong imitations can be very clearly heard.


Composer

Barrios's compositions can be divided into three basic categories: folkloric, imitative and religious. Barrios paid tribute to the music and people of his native land by composing pieces modeled after folk songs from South America and Central America. Implementing the compositional style and techniques of the
Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including ...
and Romantic periods was another side to his craftsmanship. ''Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios'' (''Alms for the Love of God'') is an example of a religiously-inspired work.


Discography

* ''Agustin Barrios: The Complete Guitar Recordings 1913–1942 –'' 3-CD set transferred and digitally remastered from 78-rpm
gramophone record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts ne ...
ings from Atlanta, Odeon, Artigas labels and some of Barrios' personal home recordings. * ''Agustín Barrios: Complete Music for Solo Guitar'' – a 6-CD-box released by
Brilliant Classics Brilliant Classics is a classical music label based in the Dutch town of Leeuwarden. It is renowned for releasing super-budget-priced editions on CD of the complete works of J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and many other composers. The label also ...
in 2010


Works

Over 300 of Barrios' compositions and arrangements survive. He is still revered in Latin America to this day, where he is seen as one of the greatest musicians of all time by many.
John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (15 November 2022)Classic Connection review '' WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who w ...
, former student of Andres Segovia, said of Barrios: ''"As a guitarist/composer, Barrios is the best of the lot, regardless of era. His music is better formed, it's more poetic, it's more everything! And it's more of all those things in a timeless way."'' Outstanding pieces in his repertoire include: * Abrí la Puerta Mi China * Aconquija (Aire de Quena) * Aire de Zamba * Aire Popular Paraguayo * Aires Andaluces * Aires Criollos * Aires Mudéjares (fragment) * Aire Sureño (fragment) * Allegro Sinfónico * Altair * A Mi Madre-serenata * Arabescos * Armonías de América * Bicho Feo * Canción de la Hilandera * Capricho Español * Choro da Saudade * Confesión (Confissao de Amor) * Contemplación * Córdoba * Cueca (Danza Chilena) * Danza en Re Menor * Danza Guaraní * Danza Paraguaya no.1 * Danza Paraguaya no.2 'Jha, che valle' * Danza Paraguaya (duet version) * Diana Guaraní * Dinora * Divagación en Imitación al Violín * Divagaciones Criollas * Don Perez Freire * El Sueño de la Muñequita * Escala y Preludio * Estilo Uruguayo * Estilo * Estudio de Concierto No.1 in A major * Estudio de Concierto No.2 in A major * Estudio del Ligado in A major * Estudio del Ligado in D minor * Estudio en Arpegio * Estudio en Si Menor (solo and duet) * Estudio en Sol Menor * Estudio Inconcluso * Estudio No. 3 * Estudio No. 6 * Estudio Para Ambas Manos * Estudio Vals * Fabiniana * Gavota al Estilo Antiguo * Habanera * Humoresque * Invocación a Mi Madre * Jha, Che Valle * Julia Florida (barcarola) * Junto a tu Corazón * Jota * La Bananita (tango) * La Catedral: Preludio – Andante – Allegro * La Samaritana * Las Abejas * Leyenda de España * Leyenda Guarani * London Carapé * Luz Mala * Mabelita * Madrecita * Madrigal Gavota * Maxixe * Mazurka Apasionata * Medallón Antiguo * Milonga * Minuet in A major * Minuet in A major * Minuet in B major * Minuet in C major * Minuet in C minor * Minuet in E major * Oración (Oración de la Tarde) * Oración por Todos * Pepita * Pericón in F * Pericón in G * Preludio Op. 5, No. 1 * Preludio in E major * Preludio in A minor * Preludio in C major * Preludio in C minor * Preludio in D minor * Preludio in E minor * Romanza en Imitación al Violoncello (Página d¹ Album, Fuegos Fátuos) * Sargento Cabral * Sarita * Serenata Morisca * Tango No. 1 * Tango No. 2 * Tarantella (Recuerdos de Nápoles) * Tua Imagem * Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios (''Also known as "El ultimo trémolo" or "El último canto"'') * Un Sueño en la Floresta (Souvenir d¹un Reve) * Vals de Primavera * Vals Op. 8, No. 1 (Junto a tu Corazon) * Vals Op. 8, No. 2 * Vals Op. 8, No. 3 * Vals Op. 8, No. 4 * Vals Tropical * Variaciones sobre un Tema de Tárrega * Variaciones sobre el Punto Guanacasteco * Vidalita con variaciones in A minor * Vidalita in D minor * Villancico de Navidad * Zapateado Caribe (trio) He also wrote a couple of poems: * ''Mi Guitarra'' * ''El Bohemio''


Instruments

While in Paraguay, Barrios had access only to instruments of limited quality. However, soon after his arrival in Buenos Aires in 1910, he was exposed to, and played, the finest instruments of his time for the remainder of his career. Barrios normally traveled with two guitars, and had several modified with the addition of a 20th fret. He is documented by photograph to have played the instruments of Spanish
luthier A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers of ...
s Manuel Ramirez, José Ramírez I, Enrique García, Francisco Simplicio, Domingo Esteso, Enrique Sanfeliu and Ricardo Sanchis Nacher, Brazilian maker Di Giorgio, and in print by Uruguayan maker Rodolfo Camacho.


Film

On August 21, 2015, the film ''Mangoré – For the Love of Art'' was released in Asunción, based loosely on the life of Agustin Barrios, with a script and direction by the Chilean filmmaker Luis R. Vera. The guitarist was played by the Mexican actor
Damián Alcázar Damián Alcázar (born January 8, 1953) is a Mexican actor and politician, who is best known outside of Mexico as Lord Sopespian in '' The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian''. He was a deputy in the Constituent Assembly of Mexico City. Care ...
and the Paraguayan actor Celso Franco, star of '' 7 Boxes''. The music in the soundtrack was played by the Paraguayan guitarist
Berta Rojas Berta Rojas (born 23 September 1966) is a Paraguayan classical guitarist that won two Latin Grammy Awards on 2022 in its 23rd edition with her latest album entitled "Legado", the first in the "Best Classical Music Album" category, becoming the f ...
. The concert scenes were filmed using a guitar by Mexican guitar maker Federico Sheppard.


Bibliography

* Carlos Salcedo Centurion, ''El Inalcanzable Agustín Barrios Mangoré,'' 2007 * Richard D. Stover, ''Six Silver Moonbeams: The Life and Times of Agustin Barrios Mangoré'', GSP
GSP210
* Sila Godoy, Luis Szarán, ''Mangoré: Vida y Obra de Agustín Barrios'', Editorial Don Bosco/Ñanduti Vive, Asunción, Paraguay * Nicolás T. Riveros, ''Dos almas musicales: Agustín Pío Barrios y José del Rosario Diarte'', Asunción, Paraguay * Bacón Duarte Prado, ''Agustín Barrios, un genio insular''. Editorial Araverá, Asunción del Paraguay, 1985 * Richard Pinnell, Frederick Sheppard, ''The Diary of Agustin Barrios'' * Frederick Sheppard, Ramses Calderon, ''El Libro de Oro'' (vol. 1–6), Les Productions d'Oz


References


External links


Biography


''Agustín Pío Barrios''. Archivo Paraguayo de la Música
Centro Cultural de la República – El Cabildo, Asunción, Paraguay * Mario Serio
''Le incisioni discografiche di Agustin Barrios''
*Luis Szarán
''Barrios Agustín (Mangoré)''
', Diccionario de la Música en el Paraguay''

* ttp://www.cybozone.com/fg/jeong.html ''Agustín Barrios Mangoré: The Folkloric, Imitative, and the Religious Influence Behind His Compositions''– a review essay by Johnna Jeong


Other


Guitar of Barrios

Agustin Barrios International Guitar Competition
(Nuoro, Italy) *
Augustín Barrios recordings
at the
Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrios, Agustin 1885 births 1944 deaths 19th-century male musicians 19th-century musicians 20th-century composers 20th-century guitarists 20th-century male musicians 20th-century indigenous people of the Americas Romantic composers Composers for the classical guitar Male classical composers Paraguayan composers Paraguayan classical guitarists Paraguayan people of Guarani descent Guaraní people People from Misiones Department Male guitarists