Historic Guitar Makers of the Casasimarro School
These biographies of historic Spanish luthiers in Casasimarro are works in progress. If you have additional materials, information, sources, photographs, or corrections you wish to share, please contact me. (Reference Works)
Alfonso Ancelmo Alarcón (Casasimarro, b. 1744 d ??).
Alfonso Ancelmo Alarcón is considered to be the founder of the Casasimarro school of guitar making. He had been a school teacher, but during visits to Granada he became fascinated by the guitar, and abandoned his profession to become a luthier, and founded a dynasty of guitar makers in Casasimarro.
Juan de Maria Alarcón (Casasimarro, b. 1776- d. 18??).
Juan de Maria Alarcón was born in Casasimarro in 1776. He was probably the son of Alfonso Ancelmo Alarcón, and his father's only disciple. He had two sons that he trained, Pedro Julian Alarcón Escudero and Victoriano Alarcón Escudero.
Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones (Casasimarro, b. 1824- d. 1885).
Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones was born in Casasimarro in 1824. He appears to have been the great grandson of Alfonso Ancelmo Alarcón. He taught Juan Felipe Alarcón Gascón who probably was his son, but was also trained Lorenzo Navarro Navarro and Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda who may have been his son-in-law. Although he died in an epidemic in 1885, all the guitar makers currently active in Casasimarro trace their linage to or through him.
Isidro Alarcón Briones (Casasimarro, b. 1828- d. 1885).
Isidro Alarcón Briones was born in Casasimarro in 1828. He was trained by his father, Pedro Julian Alarcón Escudero. He had two sons that also became guitar makers under their father's tutelage, Amalio Alarcón Parreño and Primativo Alarcón Parreño. Isidro died in the epidemic of 1885.
Pedro Julian Alarcón Escudero (Casasimarro, b. 1801-d. 1881).
Pedro Julian Alarcón Escudero was born in Casasimarro in 1801. He was the son of Juan de Maria Alarcón and was trained by his father. He had two sons who followed him in the profession. Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones and Isidoro Alarcón Briones. He died at the age of eighty in 1881.
Victoriano Alarcón Escudero (Casasimarro, b. 1814- d. 1888).
Victoriano Alarcón Escudero was born in Casasimarro in 1814. Like his elder brother, Pedro Julian, Victoriano was trained by his father. Victoriano had two son's he trained as luthiers: Juan Maria Alarcón López and Juan de Mata Alarcón López. Victoriano died in 1888.
Juan Felipe Alarcón Gascón (Casasimarro, b. 1847- d. ??).
Juan Felipe Alarcón Gascón was born in Casasimarro in 1847. He was the son of Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones and was trained by his father.
Juan Maria Alarcón López (Casasimarro b. 1849 d. 1881)
Juan Maria Alarcón López was born in Casasimarro in 1849. He was the younger son of Victoriano Alarcón Escudero and like his brother Juan de Mata Alarcón López he was trained by his father. In 1881, he died at the age of thirty two.
Juan de Mata Alarcón López (Casasimarro b. 1848 d. 1913).
Juan de Mata Alarcón López, the eldest son of Victoriano Alarcón Escudero, was born in Casasimarro in 1848. He was trained by his father. In turn, he trained his son, Victoriano Alarcón Parreño. He died in 1913.
Amalio Alarcón Parreño (Casasimarro b. 18?? d. 1885).
Amalio Alarcón Parreño from Casasimarro, was likely one of Isidoro Alarcón Briones sons. At any rate, he was trained by Isidoro. He died in the epidemic of 1885 that took Isidro and his brother Primativo.
Primativo Alarcón Parreño (Casasimarro b. 18?? d. 1885).
Primativo Alarcón Parreño, from Casasimarro, was in all probability the son of Isidoro Alarcón Briones, and was the brother of Amalio Alarcón Parreño, Like Amalio he was trained by Isidoro. He also died in the epidemic of 1885 that took Isidoro and his brother.
Victoriano Alarcón Parreño (Casasimarro b. 1882 d. 1944).
Victoriano Alarcón Parreño was born in Casasimarro in 1882. He was probably the son and disciple of Juan de Mata Alarcón López. He was also the last of the Alarcón family building guitars under their name, and with his death in 1944, this dynasty came to an end.
D. Blas Carrillo Alarcón (Casasimarro, b. 1836-d. 1919).
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Don Blas Carrillo Alarcón was born in Casasimarro in 1836, and is the founder of the Carrillo guitar dynasty, now in its fourth generation. He was trained by Juan de Mata Alarcon Briones, who may have been a kinsman, as his maternal name was Alarcón, although not exactly with Juan's blessings. Blas learned how to make guitars by spying on Juan. He worked as a groom for Juan, but Juan was a secretive man who worked behind locked doors. After he finished his chores at night, Blas would spy through the key hole, and observe Juan making guitars. One day, he broke the lock and went into the shop to observe all the details of guitar making that he still was unsure of, and although he lost his job on this account, once he had been able to make these observations, he was able to begin making guitars. In addition to guitars, he made bandurrias and laúdes. He trained his son, Vícente Carrillo López, who took over his workshop at his death at the age of 83. |
Vícente Carrillo Cantos (Casasimarro, b. 1926- d. 1971).
Vicente Carrillo Cantos and his father, Vicente Carrillo López |
Vícente Carrillo Cantos was the son of Vícente Carrillo López. Like his father he was born in Casasimarro, and was trained as a luthier by his father-- making guitars, bandurrias, contraltos, laúdes, laudónes and other instruments. In 1962, he took over his father's workshop and expanded it into a large Ramirez style workshop, employing as many as 16 luthiers, among whom were Juan Mondéjar, Antonio Bernal, José Maria Escriano, Eufemio Casas, and Teófilio Escobar. He trained both José Leal Mejías and his brother Tomas Leal Mejías. When he died in 1971, Vícente Carrillo Cantos was only 45. Upon his death, his widow Gabriela Casas Fornier who had learned to make guitars from her husband took over the shop. |
Vícente Carrillo López (Casasimarro, b. 1881-d. 1962).
Don Vícente Carrillo López the son of D. Blas Carrillo Alarcón was born in Casasimarro in 1881. His father, then, 45 was already a successful maker, and Vicente grew up surrounded by guitar making. Learning the art from his father, D. Vicente took over his father's shop upon his death in 1919. He, in turn, taught his son, Vícente Carrillo Cantos.
Pablo Casas Cebrian (Casasimarro, b. 1896 -d. 1959)
Pablo Casas Cebrian was born in Casasimarro in 1896. He was trained by Victoriano Alarcón Parreño. He was also an intimate friend Vicente Carrillo López. He died in 1959.
Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda (Casasimarro, b. 1832- d.1897).
Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda was born is Casasimarro in 1832. He was the son-in-law of Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones and received his training as a guitar maker from his father-in-law. He had two sons Gregorio Leal Alarcón and Juan Leal Alarcón both of who apprenticed with their father. He also trained his kinsman Juan Leal Gomez. He died in 1897.
Gregorio Leal Alarcón (Casasimarro, b. 1867 - d. 1955).
Gregorio Leal Alarcón was born in the tiny town of Casasimarro in the province of Cuenca in 1867. He was trained by his father Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda. Although Domingo Prat (1934) lists him as a guitar maker, he seems to have earned his living more as a carpenter, and consequently built very few guitars. He trained Pablo Casas Cebrian. He died around 1955.
Juan Leal Alarcón (Casasimarro, b. 1869 - d. 1944).
Juan Leal Alarcón was born in Casasimarro in 1869. Like his elder brother Gregorio Leal Alarcón, he received his training as a guitar maker from his father, Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda. He died in 1944.
Juan Leal Gómez (Casasimarro, b. 1837 - d. 1895).
Juan Leal Gómez was born Casasimarro in 1837. He was trained by his cousin, Felipe Fausto Leal Proveda. He died in 1895.
Lorenzo Navarro Navarro (Casasimarro b. 1839 - d. ??).
Lorenzo Navarro Navarro was born in Casasimarro in 1839. He was one of several guitar makers trained by Juan de Mata Alarcón Briones.
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