Two years ago I became aware that Gregorio Carracedo (1790-187- had made 2 guitars that Trinidad Huerta used in a concert held in Madrid in September 1847. Now we have an article from a newspaper also published in Madrid in the same year, just 2 1/2 months later, claiming that his son, Antonio Carracedo (1831-), made the guitars. Who knows?
Did Gregorio tell Antonio to say to the journalist that he made them? Gregorio had been in his business at least since 1820, and he was 57 years old as the meeting took place. The year after this event took place, guitar maker, Francisco Gonzalez, had a workshop just blocks away from Gregorio and Antonio's workshop on the same street.
Antonio had been working in the workshop since he was 13 or maybe even 9 or 10 years of age. If you read other articles about him on my site, you learn he won awards, in 1873, in expositions when he was 42 years of age, and that Francisco Gonzalez (1820-1879) did in the same expositions as well.
Huerta had been called the "Paganini of the Guitar" for 14 years repeatedly in the press.
In the daily "El Heraldo" (Madrid. 1842) on 9-11-1847 on page 4 and "El Español" (Madrid. 1835) on 9-12-1847 #989 on page 4
"—The famous guitarist Huerta begs us
that we announce to his friends, to the fans and to the
guitar teachers that Gregorio Carracedo, fabricator
of guitars on calle de la Cruz, has built
two rosewood of an extraordinary quality,
being able to assure that he has not seen them louder, and
that his excellent voices meet all the conditions
that requires such a difficult instrument. Various fans,
they have also seen them and have assured the same thing, that
giving very pleased to see such good works due
to the application and talent of a Spanish artist.
and so that the general public can play, Mr.
Huerta at the farewell concert that will have the honor
to give in the Liceo before leaving for abroad,
he will play on said guitars, that he truly
They deserve the name of harps."
In the daily "El Eco del comercio" 11-28-1847 # 1,585 on page 4
—On Thursday night we had the pleasure of hearing
playing the guitar by Professor Francisco Huerta,
whose skill has been so applauded abroad,
whose countries he has traveled. Among the different
pieces that he played were an Aria from Lucia, from
Lucrecia, the anthem of Riego and the Andalusian airs, (Flamenco pieces)
the last two composed by the same gentleman
Mr. Huerta, with a multitude of hilarious variations and
of exquisite taste, When the strings of its beauty vibrate
guitar in the sentimental parts that he played, experienced
our hearts the same emotions,
producing such an effect on the spectators, that
as if they were listening to the famous Ronconi and
Moriani, burst into resounding applause and bravery;
However, if feelings were caused by the pulsations
of Mr. Huerta in the pathetic part, older
was the joy when the scene changed with the anthem of
Irrigation and the Andalusian air, since any comparison
It is little, to taste, to truly manners
nationals and the admirable execution of the
Mr. Huerta, who received samples of the taste
with which he was listened to. We have the
complacency that a Spaniard, and playing with
such perfection, also a Spanish instrument,
He has managed to cause the admiration of foreigners
and helped many unfortunate people who moaned in the
emigration and that without his help they would have perished.
On another occasion we mentioned the idea of opening
a guitar academy under the protection of the
government, because it is very miserable that when
and rightly rewards those who are noted for their
ability in other instruments is condemned
to oblivion the one who, both for being Spanish and for
being able to perform things in it that it does not lend itself to
no other, had to spread at the expense of anyone
sacrifice. And so that it is not believed that we are dragged
for friendship or for pleasant memories
that Mr. Huerta has left in us,
we would agree with the idea that before giving the
address of the museum that we propose, precede
a contest in which others would measure their strength
professors in Spain obscured by
not having had a chance to show off his knowledge.
And we say it with so much more sincerity
since Mr. Huerta would be the first to accept
this honorable fight in which his victory would be more
pleasant, and his defeat alone would console him, seeing that
Hear you marched along the path in which he made
sprout so many flowers.
Before concluding we must tell the public
that the two very beautiful guitars on which he played the
Mr. Huerta said night, they have been built
with careful taste by Antonio Carracedo,
16-year-old young man, who lives on Calle de la Cruz
where his father has the establishment; we owe a lot
promise us from the application of this young man,
whose advances are more satisfactory every day.