Julian Bream: A Life on the Road

by Tony Palmer

Julian Bream is recognised as one of the world’s leading guitarists, some would say the greatest. He was certainly for many years Britain’s senior ambassador as a guitarist and lutenist, touring more widely and more frequently than almost any other artist in the international arena. Bream also did incomparable work in the recording studio to establish both the guitar and the lute as concert instruments. Not content with his unique status as a performer, however, Julian Bream has always been actively concerned with new music – commissioning works from a stream of leading contemporary composers. Surprisingly for a man of his international reputation, Julian Bream was his own secretary. He planned his own concerts, made his own travel arrangements, drove himself around, checked his own lighting and carried his own baggage. At the same time, he was an avid amateur cricketer and country gardener – growing his own fruit and vegetables all year round. In 1981 this intriguingly self-contained man agreed to share some of the load. Tony Palmer travelled with him in Europe and America over several months, drawing out from the essentially private Julian Bream his views on his art and on his position in the world of music. The result is Julian a Life on the Road, where the Maestro discusses the history of his beloved guitar and its role as a solo instrument, as well as his relationships with giants of contemporary music. With self-deprecating wit, he gives a unique insight into all that he then felt about his life on the where he was going, what good he believed he did, why he carried on, how he ‘did it’ – the guitar, the lute, touring, recording, commissioning, ‘the old musicke racket’, his home. Daniel Meadows accompanied them, and his beautiful photographs add to this unusual and exhilarating picture of a self-made man – who built, out of nothing, his own unrivalled status as a man of music. The re-publishing of Palmer’s acclaimed book – for so long out-of-print and thus a much sought-after collector’s item – will be welcomed by music lovers and guitar aficionados around the world. Praise for Julian A Life on the ’An immensely revealing series of snapshots. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a musician being so frank about what it means to make a life in music’ - Nathalie Wheen, BBC ‘Immensely informative, conversational, light-hearted and intentionally deprecatory. Fascinating and extremely entertaining’ - Classical Music Weekly ‘This book is a brilliant vindication of the craft of the interviewer. It’s remarkably frank, warm and clear-headed about a man who has too few self-delusions for his comfort’ - Michael Oliver, The Gramophone ‘There is no better account of what it is like to be a touring concert artist’ - Punch Tony Palmer is a British celebrated and multi-award-winning filmmaker, music journalist and author.

Genres: Music

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2021

Reviews

[Wilbur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very chatty. Lots of Bream talking about Bream. Very enjoyable.

[William Dury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started studying classical guitar in 1970. At that time there were four recording classical guitarists: Andres Segovia, John Williams, Christopher Parkening and Julian Bream. I heard it expressed more than once that Bream was the “best.” I believed it myself.

I’m less sure of that judgment now, but only because- well I don’t know. The quotes around “best,” I guess. I’m listening to him now on some old CDs and wouldn’t bet against him.

The book under discussion is a wonderful record of a lost world, Bream traipsing about Europe and New York City, holding forth, getting paid in cash, putting the money in his guitar case and toddling off to the next concert. At home, making music with various people, holding forth again, an opinionated man, old school. Brilliant player. Listening now, I can’t make out how he makes the instrument sound so good, much less remember all the notes. Good Lord, no wonder we thought he was the best.