Description
IVOR MAIRANTS was well known throughout the world
to guitarists of all styles. After over 50 years as a professional
guitarist, teacher, composer and leading UK musical instrument retailer,
he devoted the last few years of his life to composing and writing for
the guitar.
Born in 1908 in Rypin, Poland. Ivor Mairants came with
his family to the United Kingdom in 1913. He took up the banjo at the
age of 15 and became a professional musician at the age of 20.
From
the 1930's he was a featured banjoist and then guitarist of many of
Britain's leading dance bands including those of Ambrose, Roy Fox, Lew
Stone, Geraldo and Ted Heath. In the 1960's and 1970's his outstanding
guitar playing was often heard on television, radio, film soundtracks,
and many recordings with the popular Mantovani orchestra, and with
Manuel and his Music of the Mountains. His recording of the 'Adagio'
from Joaquin Rodri-go's 'Concierto de Aranjuez' with Manuel sold over
one million copies. His guitar quintet broadcast regularly in the late
1950's on the BBC's 'Guitar Club' series.
Of particular importance
to guitarists is the fact that Ivor Mairants devoted so much of his
time to writing music and instructional methods for the guitar. His
flamenco guitar method has for many years been a bestseller all over the
world. His many other solo and technique books for all styles of guitar
playing, from publishers both in the UK and USA, have enjoyed great
success.
In the 1950's Ivor Mairants established his central
school of dance music in London. All instruments were taught at this
innovative establishment, but special emphasis was given to the guitar.
Several of his ex-pupils are today Britain's top guitarists. In 1958,
together with his wife Lily, he opened The Ivor Mairants Musicentre.
This was Britain's first specialist guitar store and it was situated in
the heart of London's West End.. For many years some of the world's best
guitars and guitar accessories were introduced into Britain by Ivor
Mairants at his store. The Ivor Mairants Musicentre became a Mecca for
professional guitarists, and for amateur guitarists at all levels of
ability. Although the store was sold in recent times to one of the UK's
major instrument distributors, it still bears his name and continues to
stock one of Britain's finest ranges of guitars.
From the 1930's
Ivor Mairants was a prolific columnist in several leading music journals
including Melody Maker, BMG and Classical guitar. In 1980 his highly
acclaimed biography 'My Fifty Fretting Years' was published by Ashley
Mark Publishing in the UK, and in 1995 his marvelous opus, 'The Great
Jazz Guitarists', probably the most complete collection of note-for-note
transcriptions of historic jazz guitar solo's was published by Music
Maker Publications in Cambridge, UK.
Reputation,
trust and credibility take years, even generations to build up and
establish. Only then can a business be described as having a history.
Ivor
Mairants, one of the world's most seminally influential guitarists,
opened his now world-famous music centre in 1962, when his career as a
guitarist, musician, teacher, author and composer was at its peak. The
Musicentre has gone on to be as famous as its creator; establishing many
brands which are now household names, and always offering an
outstanding selection of the most interesting and highest quality
instruments, catering to the seasoned professional, leisure and hobby
guitarists, and, of course, because of Ivor's extensive tuition
activities, the first time buyer. Modern, bright, clean, comfortable air
conditioned showrooms, and as is the Musicentre tradition, with
knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. |
