Narciso Yepes ( 1927-1997) The Innovator of the Ten-String Guitar
In , Yepes performed the with the , premièring the , which he invented in collaboration with the renowned guitar maker . Yepes was the greatest proponent of the 10-string, an instrument that made it possible to transcribe works originally written for baroque without deleterious of the bass notes. However, the main reason for the invention of this instrument was the addition of string tuned to C, A#, G#, F#, which resulted in the first guitar with truly chromatic string - similar to that of the piano with its sustain/pedal mechanism.
After 1964, Yepes used the exclusively, touring to all six inhabited continents, performing in recital as well as with the world's leading orchestras, giving an average of 130 performances each year.
Aside from being a consummate musician, Yepes was also a significant scholar. His research into forgotten manuscripts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries resulted in the rediscovery of numerous works for guitar or lute. He was also the first person to record the complete lute works of Bach on (14-course ). In addition, through his patient and intensive study of his instrument, Narciso Yepes developed a revolutionary technique and previously unsuspected resources and possibilities.
He was granted many official honours including the Gold Medal for Distinction in Arts, conferred by King ; membership in the Academy of el Sabio and an Honorary Doctorate from the . In 1986 he was awarded the National Music Prize of Spain, and he was elected unanimously to the Spanish Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Since Narcisco Yepes limited his public appearances due to illness. He gave his last concert on March 1st 1996, in Santander (Spain).
He died in in 1997.
He was married to Marysia Szummakowska. They had one son, Ignacio Yepes, an orchestral conductor, and one daughter, dancer and .