Emilio (Emili) Pujol Vilarrubi (1886-1980) was a composer and the leading twentieth century musicologist and classical guitar teacher. These are 10 quotes by Pujol that all of us guitarists should follow.

Quote 1

Speed is the enemy of emotion

Quote 2

The fingers must love the cords and separate the least possible in displacements. They must remain arm-above arm-below

Quote 3

Work slowly, and meditate on each note

Quote 4

Learn how to study: One that can study, can manage to quickly concentrate the technique “en peu de choses (in few things)”, because it goes to essence

Quote 5

Any guitarist should read Virgile, Plato, Racine

Quote 6

The heart of the vibration, and the vibration of the heart resident in the body of the guitar, and each note is small a piece of love

Quote 7

One finds the following in the music: The beauty of a flower, a sigh; When one can appreciate the murmur of the foliage one can understand all that occurs behind the musical writing and transmit to the others, transmiting our happiness to them.

Quote 8

To interpret a work, it is necessary to be persuaded that it is well done, and to try to approach the spirit of the composer as much as possible

Quote 9

Each one among us has his clean"Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun)" but is constantly deviated by it and can never really reach it

Quote 10

There is a vibrato which occurs without moving the finger: it is the vibration of the heart of the one that feels deeply what one plays

Biography

Emilio Pujol was born in the little village of Granadella just outside Lerida, Spain. He began his studies with Francisco Tárrega at the Conservatory of Barcelona in 1901, when he was fifteen years of age. At this time, Miguel Llobet was making his debut as a concert artist outside Barcelona. Pujol fondly remembered his first encounter with Tárrega and in his biography of his teacher, he described his mestre in very endearing, romantic terms. During the war years 1914-1918 he did not travel much and mainly remained in Catalonia. In 1918 he undertook his first tour of South America, starting in Buenos Aires. The only major interruptions in his concert travels were his marriage to Matilda Cuervas in Paris, an Andalusian singer and guitarist, and the period of time he devoted to historical research in Paris into the instrumental predecessors of the guitar. The beginning signs of World War II, also prevented him from continuing his concert career.

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