Album Notes

A studio, digital recording of a classical guitar repertoire made of transcriptions which used to be very fashionable and has been really enjoyable and attractive. A CD including Fryderyk Chopin's piano music arranged for classical guitar by a great artist of the modern instrument, Francisco Tárrega, which might be difficult to be found elsewhere.
F. Tárrega arranged for guitar some compositions which had been written for piano by F. Chopin, and had them published in Spain during the early years of the 20th century. My recording is based on these original printed music.
The culture of making transcriptions was continued by other eminent guitarists in Spain and abroad for all the 1900's. Outstanding among the ranks of others, we can find the names of Miguel Llobet and Andrés Segovia. For this reason, these arrangements, which are sometimes called 'historical transcriptions', are now part of the history and culture of the modern guitar. In addition to it, music of such a high level can be very enjoyable even if it is not played with the original instrument.
FOUR PRELUDES from Op. 28. These are very famous and attractive, and they will remind you probably of music which was written by other great romantic composers of the 19th century (Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn). The musical background of Chopin was basically neo-classic and cosmopolitan. His education as a young pianist related to the school of J. Hummel.
NOTTURNO Op. 9 No. 2. It has been arranged for a great deal of solo instruments and also ensembles. Some critics have tried to explain the particular Chopin’s melody composing skills. According to their opinion, he met some famous opera composers like Bellini and Donizetti during his staying in Paris and studied their works deeply. Whether it is true or not, in his charming 'nocturnals' this great ability shows up.
MAZURKA Op. 33 No. 4. Some mazurkas had worried Chopin before he published them because of their originality, which you may find in this one too. 'Mazurka' is a Polish name of a popular dance. Being innovators meant to many romantic composers to recuperate the traditions of their native country and to refresh them with new and revolutionary musical ideas.