Monching Carpio's New Album Featuring Jose Valdez's Guitar Compositions Played on Rare Historic Guitars

We are excited to share with you a beautiful new album featuring compositions by renowned Filipino composer Maestro Jose Valdez, performed by one of the Philippines' top guitarists, Monching Carpio. This album was produced by "The Guitar Friends" and is now available on all major streaming platforms!

What sets this album apart is its use of 13 rare historic guitars from the GTY collection, each bringing its own distinctive sound to the compositions. Many of these guitars are featured in GSI’s online museum, making this recording not just a tribute to Valdez’s compositions, but also a celebration of guitar-making craftsmanship from the past centuries.

Featured Guitars:

• 1981 Daniel Friederich
• 1931 Hermann Hauser
• 1957 Hermann Hauser II (ex Julian Bream)
• 1883 Antonio de Torres "SE 49" (ex Francisco Tárrega)
• 1975 Manuel Velazquez
• 1963 Ignacio Fleta (ex Angel Romero)
• 1977 Jose Romanillos
• 1976 Miguel Rodriguez "Churchdoor" (ex Celin Romero, John Dearman)
• 2016 Paulino Bernabe "Torres"
• 1925 Domingo Esteso
• 1930 Santos Hernandez
• 1960 Robert Bouchet
• 1969 Jose Ramirez "1a AM" (ex Andres Segovia)

Below, we’ve presented a teaser from the recording sessions, where you can get a glimpse of the breathtaking sound quality captured. Also, enjoy two full performance videos from the album featuring "Kundiman in D" and "Himig Blg. 4".

This album is a must-listen for anyone passionate about classical guitar, historic instruments, or the vibrant musical traditions of the Philippines. You can access the full album below!