Royal Family of the Guitar to hold concerts -- china.org.cn

The world renowned "Royal Family of the Guitar"—The "Romeros guitar quartet" will start their series of Chinese concerts in Beijing on Sep 11th, as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

50 years ago, the now legendary Spanish guitarist Celedonio Romero held his first solo show, and in 1960 with his three sons, Celin, Pepe and Angel, founded the internationally renowned ensemble, known to millions as "The Royal Family of the Guitar". Now the quartet spans three generations of guitarists which have amazed the world with their music.

The world renowned "Royal Family of the Guitar"—The "Romeros guitar quartet" will start their series of Chinese concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Sep 11th , as part of their 50th anniversary tour. [CRI]

If you go to Spain to experience the best of the country, there are three things you'd better not miss: seeing the art of Picasso, Miro and Dali, drinking in the local pubs and bars, and dancing Flamenco to the sounds of local guitarists.

"I think in Spain, most people who play guitar, have a natural ability, It's very strange, you walk around the plazas, you see children playing with such marvelous technique with their fingers moving. So it's in the blood."

Spanish's love of the guitar has never waned. 50 years ago, legendary Spanish guitarist Celedonio Romero held his first solo concert in Madrid; he is praised as the "poet of the guitar". He married actress Angelita that same year and they had three sons, Celin, Pepe and Angel. Mr. Romero senior formed the family quartet in 1960 and led it in its first public concert in 1961. The guitar has always played an important role in the family.

Pepe Romero says: "In our family, we always use the guitar, it brings love, and the unity of our family. The guitar and all good music is a way to unify people. When we are in a concert, and hear the first sound, we are no longer divided by religion, by grace, by gender, by age, we are all vibrating to the same energy. There is nothing more unifying than music, we can also feel the mystery, of course in all the arts, but in music, I feel it the strongest."

The "Romeros guitar quartet" firmly believes the power of music, just like sports, unite people to "one world, one dream".

"My father used to tell me, play the music out into the universe, to be there, to caress, and influence future generations with the love you are giving them."

Celedonio Romero died aged 83 in 1996.With the introduction of Celin's son, Celino, into the quartet in 1990, and Angel's son Lito joining his father, the Romeros span three generations of musical artists. Now, the quartet consists of Celin, Pepe Lito and Celino, and they are continuing Celedonio's legacy, as world renowned exponents of the classical guitar.

It's rare to have so many artists playing at one time on the same instrument, but the Romeros guitar quartet make it look easy. However, the path to becoming a great guitarist is not always smooth. For Celio, the youngest member of the quartet, it took him many sleepless nights to make up his mind.

"I had many dreams, one of them was baseball. I was quite good so I thought maybe I could become a professional baseball player. Another one was an airline pilot. In high school I faced the same pressures as others; what do we want to do with your live, do you want to make a lot of money, work for a boss, have your own hours."
Just after high school, his goals became clear. He was meant to be a guitarist.

"I always knew that guitar was a part of my life, but as a young kid, it was almost looking impossible to be able play as well as my grandfather, my father and my uncle, how could I do that? But over time I learnt that practice makes perfect. I saw how they dedicated their lives to the guitar and how success came from that. I knew that whatever I chose to do would require the same amount of dedication. So as the years went on I noticed myself getting much better, and the better I got, the more I loved it and the more my mind started leaning towards it."

Now even Celion is the father of three children. When asked if the quartet has ever thought about expanding to five members, Celio said he and the other family members never forced any of their children to take up guitar.

"I never force, and I was never forced to play guitar, I told them it was like the recipe for a dish you make, that dish hasn't changed the way my father and my uncle were taught.

It's the same way we will teach our children. That's never forced upon them. Try to make it fun. My son likes to play both electric and classical guitar, I have no problem with it, whatever he enjoys it, just let him enjoy it. But definitely he loves classical guitar and has a good appreciation of music."

Holding the same dream as Celedonio Romero, Celin and Pepe, as the elder statesmen of the quartet, have been longing to come to Beijing. And today the quartet realized their dream and the dream of their father too. They immediately visited the birds nest, and for sure will visit the silk market, the Great Wall, and taste Beijing roast duck too.

(CRI September 10, 2008)