Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909)

Biography

Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909) was a Spanish guitarist and composer. His music and style of guitar playing became strongly influential in the twentieth century. He was central to reviving the guitar as a solo instrument and is considered to have laid the foundations for 20th century classical guitar.

He composed 78 original scores and 120 transcriptions. Among his most popular works for the guitar are Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Capricho Árabe and Danza Mora. As with other Spanish composers of his generation, such as his friend Isaac Albéniz, he had an interest in combining the prevailing Romantic trend in classical music with Spanish folk elements. He was known as the "Sarasate of the guitar".