Rodolfo Camacho Viera

Rodolfo Camacho Viera
Camacho Viera with one of his guitars
Born	(1887-03-10)10 March 1887 Montevideo, Uruguay
Died	1973(1973-00-00) (aged 85–86) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nationality	Uruguayan, Argentinian
Occupation	Luthier

Rodolfo Camacho Viera (10 March 1887 – 1973) was a Uruguayan-born naturalized Argentine luthier,[1] known for manufacturing classical guitars and violins. He is considered one of the most notable Latin American luthiers of his time,[2] having received several awards.[3] His guitars have been praised by musicians such as Andrés Segovia[4][5] and Agustín Barrios.[5]

Biography

Rodolfo Camacho Viera was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 10 March 1887. His father was a guitar maker from Andalusia, Spain, who originally opened a workshop in the Canary Islands before moving with his family to Uruguay and then to Buenos Aires, where they settled in 1904.[6] He learned the craft of luthiery from his father, and his guitars followed the Spanish tradition.

In Argentina, Camacho Viera began working for the National Congress of Argentina, doing carpentry work. Handcrafted pieces made by Camacho Viera still exist and can currently be seen in the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. Later, he began specializing in guitar construction. As a luthier, he forged friendships and worked for renowned Latin American musicians such as Agustín Pío Barrios, Henryk Szeryng, Alirio Díaz, and Cayo Sila Godoy.[7]

In 1934, guitarist Andrés Segovia spoke highly of Camacho Viera guitars:

I consider the guitar that has been made for me —not manufactured or constructed, which implies the abandonment of the artisan's spiritual care and resignation to mechanical elements— by Mr. Camacho Viera, the best instrument of all that have passed through my hands.[8]

In addition to manufacturing guitars, Camacho Viera repaired musical instruments for wealthy families in Buenos Aires. In this way, he came into contact with Stradivarius violins and became interested in their construction. Through the study of these instruments, Camacho Viera created his own line of violins that are made in the style of Stradivarius.[9]

Camacho Viera died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1973.

Awards

• Gold Medal (Barcelona, 1924)
• Gold Medal (Rome, 1924)
• First Prize and Gold Medal (Buenos Aires, 1928)

References

1. "El legado de Ernesto que sigue vivo en todos sus instrumentos". Clarín (in Spanish). 14 April 2013. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
2. Vallejos, Ezequiel (5 May 2012). "Detrás de las cuerdas". DIA 32 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-22.
3. Prat, Domingo (1986). A biographical, bibliographical, historical, critical dictionary of guitars (related instruments), guitarists (teachers, composers, performers, lutenists, amateurs), guitar-makers (luthiers), dances and songs, terminology (Repr. [of the ed.] Buenos Aires, Romero y Fernandez, 1934 ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Ed. Orphée. ISBN 978-0-936186-18-4.
4. Vowinkel, Otto (27 May 2013). "Andres Segovia". Ottovowinkel.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
5. Herrera, Francisco. Enciclopedia de la Guitarra (in Spanish). Piles. p. 404. ISBN 9788495026798.
6. Vega, José Luis Romanillos (1993). "La Guitarra Española En La América Latina Moderna: Guitarreros Y Guitarras (1800-1950)". Revista de Musicología. 16 (3): 1402. doi:10.2307/20795996. ISSN 0210-1459.
7. Galeano, Erico (14 November 2013). "Libro sobre Sila Godoy se lanza en cuna de Mangoré". ABC Color (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-23.
8. Godoy Alvarez, Elisa Concepción (2013). Cayo Sila Godoy en Programas de Conciertos - 8 Decadas de Musica y Guitarra Clásica (in Spanish). Policarpo. p. 61. ISBN 9789995326814.
9. Osborne, Randy; Martínez, Héctor García (2020). Annotations for the History of the Classical Guitar in Argentina, 1822-2000. Fine Fretted. p. 2561. ISBN 9781734529401.

Bibliography

• Herrera, Francisco (2004). Enciclopedia de la Guitarra (in Spanish). Piles. ISBN 9788495026798.
• Osborne, Randy; Martínez, Héctor García (2020). Annotations for the History of the Classical Guitar in Argentina, 1822-2000. Fine Fretted. ISBN 978-1-73452-940-1.
• Prat, Domingo (1986). A biographical, bibliographical, historical, critical dictionary of guitars (related instruments), guitarists (teachers, composers, performers, lutenists, amateurs), guitar-makers (luthiers), dances and songs, terminology (Repr. [of the] Buenos Aires, Romero y Fernandez, 1934 ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Ed. Orphée. ISBN 978-0-936186-18-4.