The great tradition of the Spanish guitar has quietly taken root far from Spain — including on the Canadian prairies, in the workshop of Daryl Perry. Working from Winnipeg, he has become one of Canada's finest Gitarrenbauer and a respected custodian of the Torres school.
A craftsman by hand
Perry has devoted himself to building stringed instruments since 1982, and his guitars are now sought by players around the world. What sets his bench apart is a near-monastic dedication to hand work: he chooses not to use power tools, on the conviction that you cannot truly understand wood without shaping it by hand. Every instrument is the product of that slow, direct conversation with the material.
In the line of Torres
Early in his career Perry attended a workshop with the maker-scholar José Luis Romanillos, who introduced him to the central ideas of the Torres school — and he has refined that understanding ever since. His guitars are counted among the finest being made today in the tradition of Torres, Hauser, Simplicio and Romanillos: warm, balanced, deeply Spanish in spirit even though they are born in Canada.
Recognition
Perry has earned numerous awards and pursued historical research into the instrument on both sides of the Atlantic. As early as 1994, two of his guitars were displayed at the Canadian Museum of Civilization — a sign of how seriously his work is taken as both craft and cultural heritage. Today his reputation is thoroughly international.
FAQ
Who is Daryl Perry?
A Canadian luthier based in Winnipeg, regarded as one of the country's finest classical guitar makers.
What tradition does he build in?
The Torres school, which he learned in part through a workshop with José Luis Romanillos.
Why does he avoid power tools?
He believes you cannot fully understand the wood without shaping it by hand.
