The Magic of the Guitar

 1993; 18 tracks
Turíbio Santos, guitarist  Here is a collection of various guitar pieces, some arranged for the guitar and some composed specifically for the instrument. I posted some of Villa-Lobos' guitar music a little while back (link here), but most of the composers on this release were unknown to me. There is quite a mix of styles here - some are Bach-like in textures and progressions, while others are gentle and sweeping (especially the Granados piece, which was originally written for piano and is incredibly lovely), and still others exude the sensual, dance-like rhythm of Spanish orient. It is very easy, enjoyable listening. A little more information on the performer...

"One of the most important Brazilian classical guitar performers, Turíbio Santos has recorded over 40 LP's, deserving a special mention his efforts to bring popular music, and specifically the choros by João Pernambuco, to the realm of classical execution. Son of an amateur guitarist, Santos started at the guitar at three, and, after he was ten, he took as his mentor Oscar Cáceres. Debuting in 1962 in a concert in São Luís (Maranhão), he performed in Rio de Janeiro in the same year, meeting Arminda Villa-Lobos (Heitor Villa-Lobos' second wife), by whose request he recorded Villa-Lobos' 12 studies for guitar. In the next year Santos realized the world debut of Villa-Lobos' Sexteto Místico."

01 Isaac Albéniz - Cantos de España, Op. 232, No. 1, Preludio (Asturias, Op. 47 No. 5)
02 Heitor Villa-Lobos - Chôros No. 1 for Guitar
03 Heitor Villa-Lobos - 12 Etudes for Guitar, W 235: No. 1 in E minor
04 Antonio Lauro - Valses venezolanos for Guitar, No. 3, Natalia/Criolla
05 Guido Santorsola - Suite all'antica: Prelude No. 1
06 Fernando Sor - Leçons progressives, Op. 31, No. 5 in B minor, Andantino
07 Fernando Sor - Etudes for Guitar, Op. 6, No. 12 in A major - Andante
08 Fernando Sor - Etudes for Guitar, Op. 6, No. 17 in E major
09 Fernando Sor - Etudes for Guitar, Op. 6, No. 9 in A minor - Andante allegro
10 Heitor Villa-Lobos - 12 Etudes for Guitar, W 235: No. 11 in E minor
11 Heitor Villa-Lobos - Suite populaire brésilienne, W 20: No. 3, Waltz Chôro
12 Agustín Barrios Mangoré - Prelude for Guitar in G minor, Op. 5, No. 1
13 Joaquin Rodrigo - Piezas españolas for Guitar, No. 3, Zapateado
14 Joaquin Rodrigo - Piezas españolas for Guitar: No. 1, Fandango
15 Isaac Albéniz - Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71, No. 8, Rumores de la caleta
16 Isaac Albéniz - Barcarola for Piano, Op. 202 "Mallorca"
17 Enrique Granados - Danzas españolas for Piano, Op. 37, No. 5, Andaluza
18 Manuel de Falla - Homenaje "Le tombeau de Claude Debussy"

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