Esteban de Sanlucar, 1912

1912 - ESTEBAN DE SANLÚCAR – Centennial Tribute

This is not only a tribute but is above all a moving memory of my childhood, a wink and a nod at a man who was born a century ago, in 1912. I have always identified with his way of playing and making music, never forgetting that I am just a humble admirer of someone whose craft I share. A great musician who had to emigrate with few belongings but with a guitar full of talent, soul and magical sounds to show the world, and with the legacy of his homeland as a flag.

This album includes an unpublished piece by Esteban de Sanlúcar, “Capricho Flamenco”, which was never recorded even by the author himself. I want to express my gratitude to his student and friend Manolo Yglesias for giving me a copy of an informal recording he himself made of the maestro playing it in his home. He sent me the audio and a transcript he made, which I used to write my own version.

ESTEBAN DE SANLÚCAR’S BIOGRAPHY

The biography of Esteban Delgado Bernal, “Esteban de Sanlúcar” (Sanlúcar de Barrameda, 21 February 1912 – Buenos Aires, 27 October 1989), can be summed up in a few lines. He trained in Seville, playing in cafés cantantes and private parties, accompanying the flamenco singers who frequented the area around the Alameda de Hércules. In 1935 Fernando el de Triana, singer and writer, devoted a few lines to him in his book Arte y artistas flamencos: “Unless I am wrong, he will be acclaimed as one of the great figures of flamenco guitar”.

Indeed, Esteban de Sanlúcar soon became part of the “flamenco opera” tours and was billed together with great artists like Niña de los Peines, Angelillo, Pepe Marchena, Antonio Mairena, Juanito Valderrama and others. One of his tours with Conche Piquer took him to Latin America. He became a highly renowned artist and gave concerts in countries around Latin American (Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico and others).

After a time in Venezuela he finally settled in Buenos Aires. A humble, discreet man, Esteban de Sanlúcar was a great composer and a talented performer of great musical creativity. It seems that today his hour of recognition has finally come, thanks to the work of his student Manolo Yglesias and the work of Oscar Herrero.

Music notation and tabs:
- Castillo de Xauén (Danza Mora)
- Panaderos Flamencos
- Capricho Flamenco
- Mantilla de Feria
- Perfil flamenco (zapateado)
- Aromas del Puerto
- Panaderos flamencos (al estilo "Ravel")

Pieces included in the attached CD 1912