Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909)
A Spanish guitarist of genius, Tárrega founded modern classical guitar technique and left famous Romantic pieces such as “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”.
Born in Vila-real in 1852, Francisco Tárrega studied guitar and piano, then entered the Madrid conservatory. He chose to devote himself to the guitar, then seen as a minor instrument.
An admired performer in Spain and abroad, he settled in Barcelona, where he taught. His pupils included Miguel Llobet and Emilio Pujol, who carried his technique into the 20th century.
He wrote character pieces: Recuerdos de la Alhambra (entirely in tremolo), Lágrima, Adelita, Capricho árabe, and transcribed works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Albéniz for guitar, greatly expanding the repertoire.
His music combines Romantic lyricism and Spanish colour. It teaches guitarists tremolo, rest strokes for singing melodies, expressive slides and the search for a beautiful tone.
Guitar sheet music (15)
- Recuerdos de la Luna · level 4
- Lágrima (prelude) · level 3
- Adelita (mazurka) · level 4
- Recuerdos de la Alhambra · level 6
- Danza mora · level 5
- Gran vals · level 4
- Pavana · level 4
- Sueño (mazurka) · level 5
- Endecha and Oremus (preludes) · level 3
- Rosita (polka) · level 5
- María (gavota) · level 4
- Mariposa · level 6
- Estudio de velocidad · level 6
- Adelita (mazurka) — section A · level 5
- Recuerdos de la Alhambra — opening · level 6