Los Romeros

Several years ago, while listening to a classical music radio station at my workplace, I heard a recording I knew I had to own. I scrambled to jot down the name of the piece when it ended. As soon as the opportunity arose I bought the album. This was the era just prior to CDs. When I got the record home and listened, I read the cover carefully. I noticed a name I didn’t take as anything extraordinary at the time.

The recording was Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with Neville Marriner conducting, and guitar solos by Pepe Romero.

Little did I know I was being introduced to one of the most amazing families in the music world, Los Romeros.

I can’t claim any close knowledge of The Romeros Quartet or their music, and I’ve only been exposed to their musical magic sporadically, entirely through recordings. I once chanced upon mention, in a magazine article having nothing to do with music, that they lived in my home county of San Diego. But a couple of evenings ago I came across a PBS airing of Los Romeros: “The Royal Family of Guitar,” and I decided to watch.

I was once again bowled over by the talent of the Romero family as classical guitarists. More than that I was impressed by their closeness. I like to think I come from a fairly close family, though we’ve had our share of issues. I’ve known other people who experienced family as a negative, a source of pain, toxicity, abuse. Something to be avoided once one was old enough to make that choice.

The Romeros represent for me what a family should be, and more. While watching the video, I began to see their closeness and respect for one another as a palpable thing. They finish each other’s sentences, they perform together as if they’re one musician. Each embraces music in his or her own way, but they’re a family before they are anything else. I have to wonder how much this family’s soul-nourishing interconnectedness had to do with nurturing such immense talent. A gentle reverence runs through everything they have to say about each other. They’re not performers putting on a show of mutual support for the purpose of selling music. They’re a family that happens to produce some of the best music in the world.

If you like classical music, or Spanish guitar, or if you’re just curious to know why I’m blabbering on about the Romero family, do take the opportunity to listen to a sample of their music, which you can do by clicking on the quartet’s website.

This is food for the soul.

A few other CDs by the Romeros:

Angel Romero: Spanish Guitar Virtuoso

The Art of Pepe Romero: Guitar Favorites

Flamenco!

Los Romeros: The Rodrigo Collection

The Royal Family of the Spanish Guitar