Michael Laucke

Michael Laucke
Laucke in 2011
Background information
Also known as	Young Mike
Born	(1947-01-29) 29 January 1947 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Atonal classical flamenco new flamenco
Occupation(s)	Instrumentalist music industry businessman music producer
Instruments	Classical guitar, flamenco guitar
Labels	CBS/Aquitaine DeMuzik Intermède Justin-Time McGill University METACOM RCI
Associated acts	The Flamenco Road Show Michael Laucke & Fiesta Flamenco TRIO 3
Website	MichaelLaucke.com
Signature

Michael Laucke (born 29 January 1947) is a Canadian classical, new flamenco, and flamenco guitarist and composer, as well as a music industry businessman. Starting at the age of thirteen, Laucke gave professional snooker demonstrations and his winnings allowed him to take trips from Montreal to New York City to study the classical guitar with Rolando Valdés-Blain. Still active in a career spanning five decades, Laucke began performing in 1965, recording the first of 16 albums in 1969, and has toured in 25 countries. In 1971, he performed his first of many concerts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and his first concert in New York took place in 1972, where he was discovered by Senator Claiborne Pell.

Laucke was introduced to flamenco by Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucía when the two shared a loft in New York City in the early 1970s. In 1982 he was selected by Andrés Segovia to perform for the PBS network at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Laucke subsequently became Segovia's pupil. He performed mainly on classical guitar until 1990; from then on, his concerts have consisted exclusively of flamenco and new flamenco works.

Laucke has studied with other classical guitar players, including Julian Bream and Alirio Díaz. Laucke has broadened the guitar repertoire by creating over 100 transcriptions of classical and flamenco music. Several notable Canadian composers have written atonal works for him. SOCAN's The Music Scene magazine considered Laucke to be one of "five of Canada's best-known soloists". Music critic emeritus, historian, and musician Eric McLean of the Montreal Gazette avowed, "Laucke is the person who has done more for the guitar in this country than anyone else." He has received many other awards and honours throughout his career, including the Grand Prix du Disque for Best Canadian Recording.

Early life

Laucke won against the North American snooker champion

Laucke was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 29 January 1947 to parents of Russian and Polish-Jewish heritage. After they separated when Laucke was six months old, he lived with his mother, brother, uncle, and grandmother. His grandmother raised and nurtured him and later died at the age of 100.

At the age of seven, Laucke appeared in the Montreal Star newspaper having designed and built a boat from 2,000 toothpicks. A yo-yo expert by age ten, he soon discovered that he loved performing and competing. He was the Montreal champion in a city-wide yo-yo competition among 2,000 contestants, winning a C$60 bicycle. He became interested in the guitar but, because of his brother's disapproval, had to practice at friends' homes. He took up snooker, becoming a competent player by the age of thirteen, so talented that he was given a job as a demonstrator for the Brunswick Corporation, a snooker table manufacturer. Laucke learned everything he knew about billiards from George Chenier, a fellow Montrealer and the North American snooker champion. Laucke did not see him again until four years later when they faced each other at the North American snooker championships in Montreal, where Laucke beat Chenier and won the championship. Laucke recalls, "Then I decided to leave snooker, I had done what I wanted to do... My love for the guitar was overwhelming. There was a lot more money in snooker, but snooker was just a passion, and music was my love." Laucke's snooker winnings allowed him to finance 110 trips from Montreal to New York City to study the classical guitar with Franco-Spaniard Rolando Valdés-Blain.

Early career

With Frank Angelo as his manager since 1961, Laucke performed his first guitar concert in Montreal in 1965, a program of atonal music with the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. In 1971, following the first of his many concerts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The Washington Post proclaimed that Laucke had displayed "the highest form of virtuosity". His first concert in New York took place in 1972 at the Greenwich House Music School. Senator Claiborne Pell was in attendance and that evening he invited Laucke to perform his first concerts in Washington, DC, initiating a 15-year period as Laucke's U.S. representative. In 1973 Laucke starred in a documentary produced by Radio-Québec called La Guitare, and in 1976 he performed at Montreal's Summer Olympic Games.

With his teacher, the classical guitarist Julian Bream

Laucke studied with several classical guitar masters: Franco–Spaniard Rolando Valdès-Blain from 1963 to 1977, Julian Bream in 1969 as winner of the Julian Bream Master classes, Alirio Díaz from 1977 to 1979 and Andrés Segovia from 1982 to 1986. Laucke was introduced to flamenco by Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucía when the two shared a loft in New York City in the early 1970s; together, they gave private performances for the New York City jet set. Laucke was frequently hired to play at the launches of Giorgio di Sant' Angelo's new fashion lines and later those of Calvin Klein. In 1977 he founded Trio 3 with Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr and Pauline Vaillancourt; in the same year D'Addario guitar strings became Laucke's sponsor.

His recording of works by William Walton, Richard Rodney Bennett, and François Morel on the Radio Canada International label (RCI 457) won the Canadian Music Council's Grand Prix du Disque in 1979 and music critics took note.

In 1980, with an increasing number of concerts and recordings, and a busy travel schedule, Laucke became concerned that he would not have enough hours left for practising. He invented a "practiser", a small, wooden fingerboard, with six strings stretched across a bridge. The device measured 8 by 4 inches (20 by 10 centimetres) and allowed him to practice quietly during travel. Laucke found that: "Those extra hours of finger exercises pay off in handsome performance dividends."

Laucke recorded his last classical album in 1981 with singer Riki Turofsky and Guitar and Lute magazine declared it: "One of the best voice and guitar albums you will ever hear." Although Laucke had played both classical and flamenco guitar music from an early age, he performed mainly classical guitar works until 1990. From then on his concerts included many flamenco, and new flamenco, works he learned from de Lucía. Beginning in late 1990, his concerts have consisted exclusively of these works.

Teaching

He was a professor of guitar at Concordia University in Montreal in 1976, but left after two years to pursue a performing career, and has not taught guitar since. Ten years later, however, he did pass along his guitar knowledge in an eight-tape instructional video series consisting largely of information he had learned from his teachers. Of this video series Guitar Player magazine said "Laucke's enthusiasm is infectious," and Frets Magazine spoke of "thoughtful and thorough instruction". He also published articles on classical guitar.

Style and influences

Laucke with his group at Place des Arts – Montreal

Laucke's classical/flamenco musical style is a blend of his classical studies with Bream, Segovia, Valdès-Blain, and his friendship with de Lucía. Although classical and flamenco guitar are two quite different musical styles, Québec's French-language newspaper Le Soleil chronicled Laucke's feelings and reasoning about performing both.

Excerpt from Flamenco Road song by Laucke in 24 track version, a sample of the (new flamenco) style

Since the classical guitar is limited, you eventually look for something else. I was doing flamenco, and I love it. There are more varied techniques in flamenco; just in the right hand alone, we have 20 of them. I would like flamenco to become the new jazz! Flamenco has everything that it takes to follow in the footsteps of jazz and become a language to people of all countries and all cultures. We forget that before being a universal language, jazz was only the mode of expression of blacks in New Orleans! Like jazz, flamenco is based on improvisation and dialogue between instrumentalists. And flamenco is something even more, since players also interact with the dancers.
(English translation)

His blend of the classical and flamenco styles, sometimes referred to as "new flamenco" (nuevo flamenco), led music critic Eric McLean of the Montreal Gazette to proclaim, "It is Laucke's interest in flamenco that makes him special: He might be called the first interpreter of flamenco music, in the sense that he borrows these traditional works by Sabicas, Carlos Montoya and Paco de Lucía, and employs them in his own fashion, a practice to which they agree." He was given, by the Canadian federal and provincial governments, "full recognition as the person who has done more for the guitar in this country than anyone else", and is one of "five of Canada's best-known soloists", according to The Music Scene magazine published by Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).

Paco de Lucía

Laucke with his friend and mentor Paco de Lucía

"Between Two Seas" ("Entre dos Aguas") by Paco de Lucía, arranged and played by Laucke

In the 1970s, Laucke moved to New York City to further his career. He was asked by Valdès-Blain, if he would mind sharing his one-room apartment with flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía. Although Laucke had played flamenco since he was a child, he was not comfortable playing it in public, so it had remained something he played only for his own pleasure. In the Quebec, French-language newspaper Le Soleil, Laucke declared, "This meeting changed my life. We lived together in New York, and he taught me flamenco works which were not written anywhere and to which no other guitarist had access." Laucke taught de Lucía music by Bach and Villa-Lobos and de Lucía in return showed Laucke some of the secrets of his art of flamenco, an oral tradition handed down through generations, "their secrets and knowledge jealously guarded". "So for me to be taught all these techniques by a guitarist of Paco's caliber was an incredible stroke of luck", Laucke says. (English translation)

Laucke affirmed in the Montreal Gazette that "[de Lucía] was the greatest natural talent I have ever come across. At the time, Laucke was impressed by a piece called Entre dos aguas (Between Two Seas) which de Lucía was creating, and it was this work that would later make him a national hero in Spain." Since de Lucía did not read music, Laucke offered to teach him but he refused. When the question arose as to whether Laucke would ever play de Lucía's compositions in public, he advised Laucke, "you must do it in your own style".

During this period, de Lucía and Laucke gave a concert in the Spanish Embassy, where Countess Elsa Peretti, jewelry designer at Tiffany's, first heard the two guitarists. She immediately invited them to one of her parties at her New York penthouse, where de Lucía and Laucke performed in private for the New York City jet set, including fashion designer Calvin Klein, Andy Warhol, Halston and Giorgio di Sant'Angelo. "I was only 21 at the time, and it all seemed like a dream," Laucke recalled.

He teamed up again with de Lucía to give a series of concerts combining the two repertoires. Many newspapers talked about this association. The Canadian Spanish magazine El Popular said, "Moreover, ...Laucke is convinced that flamenco possesses enormous seductive powers. 'The harmonies and the rhythm leave no one indifferent', says Laucke."

The meeting with de Lucía led Laucke to perform two incompatible guitar styles. In 1991, he recorded de Lucía's compositions on the album Spanish Guitar Stories, arguably the first time a guitarist would record de Lucía's works, other than de Lucía himself; de Lucía shared his appreciation of the album, saying it was: "very beautiful, all of it, from a to z, even my pieces!"

Flamenco Road album

On 12 September 2001 Laucke released a CD called Flamenco Road, consisting mainly of his own compositions in the new flamenco style, which he also arranged. In an interview for Voir magazine, Laucke stated, "It is also very influenced by my classical background. So it's a smoother flamenco." An example of this style from the album can be heard in Laucke's treatment of the well-known classical guitar transcription "Leyenda", which is given a flamenco rendition using several percussion instruments (claves, maracas, special castanets mounted on wood blocks, chimes and a large gong), bass and flute. Laucke summarized: "The Spanish guitar remains my first love. The flamenco guitar is my passion."

Ten works were recorded at five different studios in Montreal, each chosen for its unique acoustics, and the recording's instrumentation for the title track, Flamenco Road, required the use of 24 tracks. It comprises a combination of five guitars—flamenco, Spanish, classical and electric—and all natural acoustic guitars are played the Spanish way, using all the fingers of the right hand without a pick. The rhythm section includes bongos, four congas and a rock drum set blended with other percussion instruments such as claves, maracas and castanets. It further incorporates three dancers performing typical "palmas" (hand-clapping) in synchronization, as well as three trumpets, three pianos and a "country-style" violinist.

The enhanced CD includes two videos—interactive live concert footage filmed during Laucke's tenth season at Montreal’s Place des Arts and the Flamenco Road video clip. The latter reached number one on video charts across Canada for five consecutive weeks.

Contributions to the guitar repertoire

Transcriptions

SOCAN lists 112 classical works transcribed for the guitar by Laucke, illustrating the extent to which he has broadened the guitar's repertoire in music of the Renaissance, classical, baroque and romantic eras, as well as in flamenco. Library and Archives Canada and Canadian Libraries list 43 music recordings, music scores of transcriptions for guitar and Canadian guitar articles written by Laucke. Waterloo Music Company published and distributed 24 of Laucke's guitar transcriptions of works by J. S. Bach, Luis de Narváez, Eric Satie, Heitor Villa-Lobos and others.

Trois Gymnopédies by Eric Satie

While living in Greenwich Village, New York, in the early 1970s, Laucke became interested in the French music of Eric Satie, "the world's first hippie". At that time, only simplified arrangements of Trois Gymnopédies (Three Gymnopédies) existed for the guitar, so Laucke set out to transcribe Satie's three works from the piano score. Determined to fit all of the notes from the original piano version using the guitar's six strings, over the course of three weeks he calculated the number of times open strings would occur per note.

In 1979 Laucke signed with the Waterloo Music Publishing Company, which that year published the sheet music of his transcription of Trois Gymnopédies, the first of many of his transcriptions to be published by Waterloo and arguably the only version for guitar to include all of the notes of the original piano composition. In 1985 the company created The Michael Laucke Series of guitar arrangements and transcriptions.

In the introductory notes to his sheet music for Trois Gymnopédies, Laucke comments: "The characteristic harmonies of much of the music of Erik Satie belong to the impressionist period and, though originally written for the piano, are extremely well-suited to the natural idiomatic expression of the guitar. This has led me to make these transcriptions which will enrich the repertoire of the guitar while remaining faithful to Satie's intentions."

After giving many concert performances of these works, Laucke recorded them on his CD entitled Flamenco Road which held the number one position on video charts across Canada for six weeks. The liner notes read: "My arrangements of 'The [sic] Three Gymnopédies' comprise ALL the notes of the original piano versions: a most complex process since all the piano sounds must fit comfortably, or uncomfortably, onto the six strings of the guitar." He continues to say: "The present recording is done as it is in concert, on one classical guitar, without overdubbing. My tempo is a little quicker than when the pieces are played on the piano, due to the shorter resonance time of notes played on the Spanish guitar. Now and then, I use a "vibrato" and slides, which, of course, can't be done on the piano but which add warmth of expression to this undeniably charming, exotic and mystic music."

Original works

Laucke has had 25 original, Canadian atonal works written for him, among them the Flamenco Concierto for guitar and full symphonic orchestra by Michel-Georges Brégent, Me duele España by François Morel, Exploration by Jean Papineau-Couture and Pour guitare, Claude Vivier's only work for the guitar. Laucke performed all 25 works in major halls, on CBC radio and on his record albums; all of them were commissioned by, and dedicated to, Laucke.

In 1984, critics began to take note of the growth of new Canadian guitar works energized by Laucke. In La Presse, a Canadian newspaper, music critic Claude Gingras found in Laucke "an interpreter who could not be more convincing". Canadian composer Claude Vivier expressed his appreciation to Laucke. In his letters, Vivier states that he had: "hardly ever met a musician as committed and dedicated, of such great quality and, above all, of such great completeness and intense capacity for work".

World tours

During the CBC documentary on the Great Wall of China

Laucke's career spans over 50 years, with concert and television appearances in 25 countries, including England (Wigmore Hall), the U.S. (Carnegie Hall and the White House), as well as China, on the Great Wall of China. In Canada, he has given annual concerts at Montreal's Place des Arts since 1986. Following a concert in 1990 in Quebec City's Grand Théâtre de Québec, the French-language newspaper Le Soleil wrote a review entitled "Michael Laucke makes one fall in love with the guitar", stating: "More than a virtuoso, charismatic Michael Laucke is pure talent! For him playing is instinctive, just like breathing ...irresistible Michael Laucke." Critics have often written about Laucke's stage presence. A Chicago music critic described how: "His relaxed manner, beaming smile and gracious speaking voice won the hearts of the audience before he even played a note."

He performed many concerts in Washington, DC, under the auspices of U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell, including several at the National Gallery of Art. The Washington Post proclaimed that Laucke is: "one of the finest guitarists to have played in Washington in a long time." On another occasion Laucke gave the premiere of Bregent's "Version of Sapho," written for him, an atonal work which received a less favorable critique. The Washington Post stated "Since the mind can only respond to some sort of form, its essential formlessness precludes discussion. A triad out of the blue signaled the end, which the large audience recognized and applauded."

Personal life

With Elton John, working on the fight against HIV/AIDS

Laucke became a director of the Mac AIDS Fund (M·A·F) in 1994 established by his friend Frank Angelo, the co-founder of MAC Cosmetics. After a fourteen-year tenure, he became honorary charter member of the board of directors and no longer participated in its activities. According to Laucke, MAF's directors helped coordinate the film Pandemic: Facing AIDS by Rory Kennedy, and MAF became a secondary sponsor while the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation became title sponsor.

Present day

After over 50 years of concert performances, Laucke continues an active career. Besides numerous concert appearances in North America, he has recently accepted more international tours. A new album called Flamenco Road 2 is in preparation as of September 2015. He is also an entrepreneur and businessman in the music industry.

In 2012 Laucke was nominated for the Order of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015 he was again nominated for the same award; the results will be announced in 2016.

Media

Audio

"Asturias" (Leyenda), arranged, transcribed and performed on guitar by Laucke

"Asturias" (Leyenda)

This flamenco rendition uses bass, flute, and several percussion instruments (claves, maracas, special castanets mounted on wood blocks, chimes and a large gong).

---

Video

J. S. Bach ~ bourree and double, performed by Laucke This is a transcription from the original work, "Violin Partita No. 1 in B minor BWV 1002."

Satie's "Gymnopédie No. 1", performed by Laucke This transcription necessitates intricate fingering to render all the notes of the piano version onto the guitar.

FLAMENCO ROAD Video Clip with Laucke An example of a new flamenco composition using 24 tracks. Problems playing this file? See media help.

Selected works

Main article: Michael Laucke discography and filmography

CD

Title	Year	Label	Notes
Flamenco Road	2001	Justin-Time Records	...number one on video charts across Canada for five consecutive weeks
Michael Laucke & Fiesta Flamenco: Live	1996	DeMuzik Entertainment Group	...recorded live at Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada
Spanish Guitar	1993	METACOM
Momentum – IMAX Film (the music)	1992	NFB Special Edition (National Film Board of Canada)	...shown in the Canadian pavilion during the Universal Exposition of Seville (Expo '92)‍—‌a world's fair. Co-directed by Colin Low, it is the first film in 48 frames/sec IMAX HD
Spanish Guitar Stories	1991	Intermede Communications
Light Classics	1990	Intermede Communications

LP

Title	Year	Label	Notes
Take A Short Cut	1989	Intermede Communications
Canadian Guitar Music	1987	MLCO Records
Music For Jacques Cartier	1986	RCI (Radio Canada International)	Commissioned by the Government of Canada
Canadian Guitar Quartet: Live From Montreal	1985	MLCO Records
Com-Possession	1985	McGill University Records	Winner of Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
Divergences	1984	RCI 583 (Radio Canada International)
Jade Eyes	1980	CBS /Aquitaine	...best international classical guitar album of the year
Michael Laucke, Guitarist	1979	RCI 457 (Radio Canada International)	Grand Prix du Disque, Best Canadian recording
Trio 3	1979	RCI 497 (Radio Canada International)	Members Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr, Pauline Vaillancourt and Michael Laucke
Transcription	1969	RCI 367 (Radio Canada International)	includes Départ and Iikkii by François Morel for Guitar and chamber orchestra

Filmography

Title	Year	Corporation	Producer
Momentum (IMAX film)	1992	NFB (National Film Board of Canada)	Mark Zannis
I Won't Dance	1991	LaGauchet Productions and Ciné Films Canada	Raymond Gravel
How to Play Solo Classical Guitar	1985	Rogers Educational Video Productions	Nick NotarAngelo
Michael Laucke: Guitar recital	1983	CBC Winnipeg, Canada (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)	David Waters
Segovia: Metropolitan museum: a master class	1982	PBS (Public Broadcasting System) and Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York co-production	Nathan Kroll
Form & Fire: Michael Laucke	1981	Concordia University, Montreal	Robert Frank
Musique instrumentale: La guitare	1973	Radio-Québec	Robert Desrosiers

Atonal works written for Laucke

The following works have been performed by Laucke in Carnegie Hall (performing Jean Papineau-Couture), Wigmore Hall (Michel-Georges Brégent), and National Gallery of Art (Michel Gonneville). In Canada, the SMCQ honoured Laucke's contribution by featuring him in a two-hour-long concert.

Legend:

• RCI means Radio Canada International label
• MUR means McGill University label
• CBC means CBC recording in studio or in concert
• Date means date of record or CBC recording.

Date	Composer	Musical work	Instrumentation	Length
03/06/70, RCI 367	François Morel	Départ	Guitar and chamber orchestra	9'25
08/04/72, RCI 367	François Morel	Iikkii	Guitar and chamber orchestra	16'30
05/01/76, CBC	Claude Vivier	Pour Guitare	Guitar	5'
05/01/76, CBC	Walter Boudreau	Le Cercle gnostique	Voice, flute, guitar (TRIO 3)	5'
02/25/79, RCI 457	François Morel	Me duele españa	Guitar	21'
09/23/80, CBC	David Eagle	Contrastare no 1	Bass, flute, guitar	10'
10/26/81, CBC	Alan Crossman	La Fille du Pecheur	Voice, guitar	15'
03/05/81, CBC	Bruno Deschênes	Calme en soi	Guitar	8'
02/25/82, CBC	Claude Lassonde	Quatre études Anachorétisme Quatre mouvements Image et Sonoritéé Silène pur Satyre La Règne	Guitar Guitar Guitar Two guitars Flute, guitar Voice, flute, guitar (TRIO 3)	4' 14' 8'30 4'20 5'20 15'30
04/16/82, CBC & MUR 09/28/83	John Rea (composer)	Com-possession	Guitar, string quartet	15'
04/28/83, CBC	John Burke	...ascends at full moon	Guitar, clarinet	15'
11/08/83, CBC	Jean Papineau-Couture	Exploration	Guitar	12'
01/14/83, CBC	Michel Gonneville	Le Sommeil, le Regard, le Choix	Guitar	21'
03/18/83, RCI 497	Wolfgang Bottenberg	Three Amerindian Songs, Prelude	Voice, flute, guitar (TRIO 3)	7'30
03/18/83, RCI 497	Michel-Georges Brégent	Sapho	Voice, flute, guitar (TRIO 3) Violin and guitar	15'9'
1983, RCI 583	François Morel	Divergences	Guitar, violin	8'30
1983, RCI 583	Denis Dion	Pas de deux	Guitar, violin	4'30
1983, RCI 583	Leon Zukert	Cobwebs in my Spanish castle	Guitar	7'
09/25/86, CBC	Donald Steven	Chamber Concierto for guitar	Guitar, 15 instruments	20'
1991, CBC	Michel-Georges Brégent	Concierto Flamenco	Guitar, orchestra (Montreal Symphony Orchestra)	20'

Articles

Laucke has published articles in music journals about the growth in popularity of the guitar in Canada including:

• "The Guitar in Canada" (five pages)‍—‌Soundboard Magazine, California
• "Growth of the Guitar in Canada", by Michael Laucke (six pages)‍—‌Guitar and Lute magazine, Hawaii
• "Michael Laucke Writes About the Canadian Guitar"‍—‌Waterloo Music Journal, Canada

Timeline

With Andrés Segovia‍—‌PBS TV at Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC

• 1976, he performed at Montreal's Olympic Games
• 1979, Laucke won the Grand Prix du Disque for Best Canadian Recording
• 1981, Laucke was invited to perform a Command performance for His Excellency the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer the Governor General of Canada and his wife, as winner of the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
• March 1982, Laucke's album Jade Eyes, for CBS records, was reviewed by Guitar and Lute magazine (Hawaii) as the best international classical guitar album of the year
• 1982, he was selected by Segovia to perform a 25-minute work by Manuel Ponce which was filmed by the PBS network at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, after which he became Segovia's pupil.
• 1985, 8 to 12 February‍—‌five days of interviews and career profile, two hours each day, on CBC Radio's Morningside with Peter Gzowski
• 1986, on the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's first voyage of discovery to Canada, Canadian Heritage requested that Laucke record a commemorative album. Laucke recorded music that Cartier would have heard on his voyage to the new world
• 1986, several musical publications mention Laucke's contribution to the guitar and its new repertoire. SOCAN, the Canadian copyright organization, stated in The Music Scene magazine, that they considered Laucke to be one of "five of Canada's best-known soloists"
• 1986, he created an instructional video series which was critically reviewed by Guitar Player magazine and Frets Magazine.
• May 1988, two years later, Canada's music Critic Emeritus Eric McLean wrote in the Montreal Gazette that Laucke was then recognized as: "the person who has done more for the guitar in this country than anyone else"
• 1991, Laucke performed the world premiere of the Flamenco Concierto with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Written for him by Michel-Georges Brégent, reviewers called it "Brilliant".
• 1992, Laucke performed in a Super IMAX film called Momentum, for the National Film Board of Canada; it was shown in the Canadian pavilion during the Universal Exposition of Seville (Expo '92)‍—‌a world's fair. The most popular pavilions for the visitors were those of Spain and Canada. Co-directed by Colin Low, it is the first film in 48 frames per second IMAX HD.
• 12 September 2001, Laucke's CD Flamenco Road reached number one on video charts across Canada for five consecutive weeks

See also

• Baron Byng High School Notable Alumni
• List of classical guitarists
• List of Concordia University Notable faculty
• List of flamenco guitarists
• Sam Tata (Canadian Photographer)

Notes

1.^

Virus Montréal remarked, "Few instrumentalists devote themselves with such vigor, enthusiasm, daring and mastery."

In 1980 Music magazine called him a major talent who "subtly imprints his own personality on the music", investing each phrase with his personal touch.

MusiCanada magazine praised Laucke's technique and sensitivity.

2.^

Voir magazine reported, "Making music and living alongside such a being led Laucke to have a different view of this music that previously seemed too easy for someone who had a classical training background. His cohabitation with de Lucía led to a special and powerful musical exchange which Laucke continues to treasure. It is only this year (1990) that Laucke has managed to record works which de Lucía taught him." Of course, de Lucía has his own personal style, and in fact all flamenco works are intimately connected to their composer. "But in Laucke's interpretation of de Lucía's compositions, their essence comes alive."

The newspaper Aurora (Israel) stated, "Michael Laucke had, above all, two great masters‍—‌Segovia on the classical guitar and de Lucía in flamenco. Segovia did not appreciate flamenco, and he often referred to it as tavern music. Laucke does not share this opinion and speaks of works of art in the compositions of Sabicas and de Lucía which contain the hidden secrets of this original, pure form of Spanish music expression."(English translation)

Laucke believes that, "For a guitarist, playing flamenco is most rewarding because this music is tailor-made for the guitar and allows the classical guitarist to move from one technique to another, although it is difficult."

3.^ 4.^ 5.^ 6.^ The Grand Prix du Disque for Best Canadian Recording was covered by national and international newspapers, including Music Magazine, MusiCanada, Montreal Star and International Musician. The Grand Prix du Disque album comprised a new work, 21 minutes long, called Me duele España by François Morel. It was written for, and dedicated to, Laucke and the world premiere took place at Place des Arts in Montreal, under the auspices of the SMCQ.

7.^ Pell's former campaign manager, Raymond Nelson, handled logistics for many of Laucke's performances in the U.S. Nelson helped organize U.S. President Jimmy Carter's inauguration and dedicated a photo of the event to Laucke.

8.^ Other media writing about Laucke's prowess in snooker include the Snooker Canada website and the Montreal Star reported the match with North American champion Georges Chenier against Laucke

9.^ The Montreal Gazette noted that these artistic gatherings were "the closest thing to the 18th century intellectual and artistic salon to be found anywhere these days"

10.^ Other countries where Laucke performed include Bulgaria, Hungary, Hong Kong, Spain, Israel, India, Japan, Morocco, Pakistan and Russia.

External links

• Intermede Music
• Michael Laucke's channel on YouTube