The music of Aragonese guitarist Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710) has an immediate melodic appeal. Originally for a 5 course baroque guitar, his music adapts very well to translation to the modern concert guitar. Villanos (village dance), Espanioleta and Canarios (dance from the Canary Islands) are from his 1697 method book.

Both Luis Milan and Alonso Mudarra left substantial bodies of music for the vihuela, a 16th century Spanish ancestor of the guitar that was tuned like a lute. Fantasia 12 and Pavana 2 are from Milan's huge 1536 volume El Maestro. Mudarra's three books of music include music for the four course guitar and six course vihuela. Fantasia 18 foreshadows a baroque fugue with well developed counterpoint based on the four note motive G-F#-D#-E.

Santiago de Murcia was active in the first half of the 18th century. Little is known of his life apart from his having a respected career that may have even included time spent in Mexico. His music shows a considerable skill with styles popular at the time. He played a 5 course baroque guitar.

Fernando Sor (1778-1839) and Dionisio Aguado (1784-1849) were pioneers in the development of the modern guitar with six single strings. They were both students of Padre Basilio, a legendary guitarist and instructor in Spain, and they both enjoyed active careers as performers, composers and teachers throughout Europe. The varied fandango is reminiscent of a famous fandango by Boccherini. The popular tune/chord progression 'las Folias de España' was often used as a subject for variations.

Few composers produced music more closely associated with the guitar than Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909), a curious fact considering he never wrote for the instrument. His Asturias-Leyenda, the Prelude of his great piano work Chants d'Espagne (Songs of Spain), is one of the great staples of the guitar repertoire. His lesser known Pavana-Capriccio is full of considerable charm.

The strong association of Flamenco music with Spanish culture overshadows the rich repertoire of very romantic but still distinctly Hispanic music that flourished in the late 1800's. Isaac Albeniz and Enrique Granados were the most famous exponents of this nationalistic style but there were many others, guitarists included. The music of Spanish guitarist-composers enjoyed great popular acclaim at the end of the nineteenth Century. By mixing folkloric elements from the native Flamenco tradition with the classical forms, they created a synthesis of style and playing technique that has persisted in the concert music of the guitar for the last hundred years. Francisco Tarrega was undoubtedly the most influential of these. His Prelude is subtitled 'A Vision from the Devil's Tower'.

Jose Broca was a well-known guitarist at the time whose popularity waned as musical fashion changed. Pensamiento Español is a wonderful example of his delicate and appealing style. Another of Tarrega's contributions to the concert repertoire was the arrangement of the music of his contemporaries. His transcription of Joaquin Malats' Serenata Española was dedicated to Tarrega's friend Dr. Walter Leckie.

Arguably the most often studied and performed original guitar work, Recuerdos de la Alhambra memorably reflects the fountains of the Alhambra palace in Granada. Tarrega (1852-1909) is often seen as the father of the modern concert guitar technique, this may not entirely be the case but his skill as a performer, composer and arranger built a legacy that provided a firm foundation for the young Andres Segovia.

1. Villanos (Gaspar Sanz)
2. Espanoleta (Gaspar Sanz)
3. Canarios (Gaspar Sanz)
4. Fantasia (Luis de Milan)
5. Pavana (Luis de Milan)
6. Fantasia (Alonso Mudarra)
7. Pavana (Alonso Mudarra)
8. Gallarda (Alonso Mudarra)
9. Preludio (Santiago de Murcia)
10. Sarabanda (Santiago de Murcia)
11. Gigue (Santiago de Murcia)
12. Variations on 'Las Folios de Espana' Op15 (Fernando Sor)
13. Andante Largo Op5 no5 (Fernando Sor)
14. Le Fandango Varie (Dionisio Aguado)
15. Asturias-Leyenda (Isaac Albeniz)
16. Pavana-Capriccio (Isaac Albeniz)
17. Pensamiento Espanol (Jose Broca)
18. Prelude no5 (Francisco Tarrega)
19. Serenata Espanola (Joaquin Malats)
20. Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Francisco Tarrega)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 4/28/2017
Alan Rinehart lives in Kelowna Canada

Tagged as: Classical, Renaissance, Instrumental, Composer: Alonso Mudarra, Composer: Dionisio Aguado, Composer: Fernando Sor, Composer: Francisco Tarrega, Composer: Gaspar Sanz, Composer: Isaac Albeniz, Composer: Luis de Milan, Composer: Santiago de Murcia, Lute

1. Romantic Dinner Classical Compilation by Magnatune Compilation: the best music from Magnatune
2. 12 String by Jeff Wahl: acoustic new age and jazz guitar.
3. Vito Paternoster plays Haydn & Boccherini by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
4. Too Much Mustard by Professor Armchair: demented 19th century children's music
5. New Moon by Beth Quist: electro-Balkan / Indian meets New Age.
6. Concerto Barocco by Voices of Music: Lilting Renaissance & Baroque vocal interpretations
7. Bach Violin Concertos by Lara St John: Bach violin concertos
8. Reverie by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
9. Chopin Recital by Janine Johnson: Harpsichord and fortepiano classics
10. Transcendental - Transcriptions by Brahms and Godowsky by Ivan Ilic: dazzling classical pianist
11. The Water is Wide by David Modica: layers of lush acoustic guitar
12. Kathleen McIntosh plays Bach by Kathleen McIntosh: delicious harpsichord rarities
13. Cancionero by Dufay Collective: instrumental and vocal music from the Middle Ages and Reniassance
14. Cherry Picking by Jerry Palmer: ambient, rhythmic, moody and melodic guitar compositions
15. Quieting by Lydia McCauley: intriguing piano compositions with dynamic accompaniment
16. John Dowland - Lute songs, Lute music by Francesca Torelli: deep interpreter of lute music
17. Mystic Journey by Suzanne Teng: world flute with a serene energy
18. Celocity by Claire Fitch: ambient cellist
19. Daydreamin' by Giovanni Ceccarelli: creative jazz with an international flavor
20. CD2-Bach Cello Suites by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire

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