Antonio de Torres’ house

I took a little trip to Almeria yesterday and spent the day with Carlos González, Aarón García, Pepe Zapata and, of course, Antonio de Torres Jurado. The importance of Almeria in terms of guitar-making is not limited to Torres but he does represent the focal point and one of their few international references from the past. However, the fact that the town council agreed some years ago to establish a museum dedicated to his memory is a huge coup given the spanish tendency to ignore the guitar as a money-maker, tourist draw and cultural reference. We stopped in to visit the Casa Museo de Antonio de Torres in la Cañada and although there wasn’t much to see there are plans to organize some activities there in the near future. For now a peña flamenca meets there on a regular basis. The highlight of the day was an extensive tour of the Antonio de Torres museum in Almeria itself. The occasion was the exhibition “Cinco siglos de la guitarra española” centered around an incredible guitar by Thomás Durán from 1684. This is the oldest guitar from Spain! At least as far as reliably dated instruments go. I found the documentation displayed quite interesting as one display case showed publications about the Durán guitar and another showed the first literature dedicated to the guitar. Some of the more interesting instruments which can be seen in the museum right now are a guitars by Panormo, Roudhloff, Maccaferri, Aubert a Troyes; these all recently donated to the museum by an English collector. There are a few well-made copies of interesting instruments and a few more minor pieces and a very unusual Torres guitar.

The exhibition was organized by Carlos González, well-known maker of early instruments and tireless historical researcher. It was a pleasure to spend some time with him and to learn more about the history of the museum and his plans to expand the collection and the activities offered there.

Pepe Zapata, Carlos González and Aarón García