Album Notes

Brent Gordon "B.G." McPike, D.M. offers this recording to students, teachers, and historians of the Classical Guitar - as well as curious fans. It is a companion to Sagreras' Las Primeras Lecciones de Guitarra [First Lessons for Guitar].

These 86 Lessons by the famous Argentine guitarist/composer/pedagogue, Julio Sagreras were published in Buenos Aires in 1922. The lesson tracks range from simple scale exercises to lovely miniatures for solo guitar - 86 in all. Lessons 1-39 are simply exercises and scales, while lessons 40 and beyond become gradually more musically gratifying. Many are excellent recital material for beginning students.

The Sagreras Lessons hold an important place in the history and literature of the Classical Guitar, and were the subject of McPike's doctoral research at Indiana University - Bloomington. They represent perhaps the earliest codification of systematic use of the apoyando [rest stroke], and they provide a clear glimpse into how Spanish and Argentine virtuoso guitarists at the outset of the Twentieth Century approached the guitar.

The composer of these Lessons is payed tribute in B.G. McPike's CD Baby release, "Smooth Landing", on track three (3) titled: "Hangin' with Julio" which uses a Sagreras Lesson from Book three as an introdution.