Francisco Tárrega

Had Francisco Tárrega written nothing other than Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of the Alhambra), his place in music history would still be secure. It’s an iconic piece in the classical guitar repertoire, the rippling tremolo patterns vividly depicting water fountains at the medieval Moorish palace in Granada. But Tárrega composed at least 80 other pieces for the guitar, and as a performer ranks among the greatest ever to play the instrument. Born in 1852 in Villarreal, Spain, Tárrega’s music is suffused with the generous melodies and heartfelt emotions of the Romantic period. The brief, poignant Lágrima (Teardrop) is a good example, while both the Capricho árabe and Danza Mora typify the strong influence of ethnic music on Tárrega’s compositions. In the two decades prior to his death in 1909, Tárrega also produced over 20 Preludios for solo guitar, and these are among his most piquant and individual compositions.