Categories
Romantic Spanish

TÁRREGA, Francisco

Born in Villarreal, Castellón, Nov 21, 1852
Died in Barcelona, Dec 15, 1909

[Pronunciation; stress the first syllable of “Tárrega”]

  • Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish guitarist and composer is best known for his own works for solo guitar as well as arrangements of famous works by other composers for guitar.
  • Tárrega played an important role in the resurgence of the guitar as an instrument of prominence. Growing up, the piano was much more fashionable, but thanks to the help of a new instrument design by renowned luthier, Antonio Torres, Tárrega was able to showcase the new, more resonant sound in his music and playing.
  • As a composer, Tárrega wrote 78 original works as well as 120 transcriptions for solo guitar.1

Learn More
Biography via the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Sources

  1. Thomas F. Heck, “Tárrega (y Eixea), Francisco,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed June 18, 2024, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027525.