Christopher Parkening
Pristine, warm nylon-string guitar that feels like a quiet conversation in a sunlit room. Elegant, spiritual, and technically flawless classical mastery.
Pristine, warm nylon-string guitar that feels like a quiet conversation in a sunlit room. Elegant, spiritual, and technically flawless classical mastery.
Christopher Parkening’s music is the sonic equivalent of a perfectly still mountain lake. His nylon-string guitar work is defined by an incredible warmth and a clarity that makes every individual note feel intentional and sacred. There is no aggression here, only a profound sense of peace and a technical precision that never feels cold or mechanical. It is music that breathes with the listener, offering a gentle but firm groundedness.
What truly sets Parkening apart is his lineage as the primary heir to Andrés Segovia’s Spanish romantic style, blended with a distinctly American sense of space and light. His interpretations of Bach and Vivaldi are crystalline, but his forays into Spanish classics and sacred hymns reveal a deep emotional reservoir. He uses the guitar as a polyphonic instrument, creating the illusion of a full ensemble through masterful control of timbre and sustain.
Newcomers should start with 'In the Spanish Style' to hear the fire and grace of the traditional repertoire, or 'Simple Gifts' for a more meditative, spiritual experience. It is the ideal soundtrack for moments requiring focus, reflection, or a quiet reset of the senses.
Christopher William Parkening (born December 14, 1947) is an American classical guitarist. He holds the Chair of Classical Guitar at Pepperdine University under the title Distinguished Professor of Music.
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