Flamenco Guitar

Santos Hernández

1924 · Spruce, cypress, cedar, rosewood, nickel silver, bone · Musical Instruments

Santos Hernández is one of the most famous names in Spanish guitar making and is especially known for his flamenco guitars. He first apprenticed in the guitar making workshop of Valentin Viudes, and then briefly with Ortega and Gonzalez. In the mid-1890s, he served in the artillery of the Spanish Army, finally joining the workshop of Manuel Ramírez in the late 1890s as a journeyman. In 1909, he became the foreman of the workshop and is credited with building the famous 1912 guitar that was owned and used by André Segovia for much of his early career. After Manuel RamÍrez died in 1916, Hernández established his own independent business. After his death in 1943, his widow continued to run the workshop eventually passing it to her nephew Feliciano Bayón. At the time this guitar was made, there were not strict differences betwen different types of Spanish guitars, and the idea of a "classical" guitar had not yet started. However, Hernández was a flamenco guitarist himself and knew exactly the kinds of instruments these players needed for their music. This type of instrument, with cypress back and sides and a low action, was perfect for the rhythmic playing of flamenco guitarists. Stephen Kahn purchased the instrument in 1967 from Francisco Barba in Seville and used it for nearly five decades.

Artist

Santos Hernández

Date

1924

Medium

Spruce, cypress, cedar, rosewood, nickel silver, bone

Culture

Spanish

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Steve Kahn, 2016