"Fernando Carulli - The author of the first complete classical guitar method..."
Born in Italy in the same year as Beethoven (1770), he became one of the most popular and loved classical guitar composers and players of his time. Indeed, that love extends right up to the present day as new generations of guitarists "find" his music and make it their own.
This is high praise indeed considering the fact that Carulli was basically a self-taught guitarist! He was, however, a very prolific composer writing over four hundred works throughout his life. Most of these works were for solo guitar or involved the guitar in some capacity.
By the time he went to Paris aged 38, he was a fine, cultured and highly educated musician. His music was full of charm and grace though not highly difficult like that of his contemporaries, namely Sor and Guiliani.
But even though his music was often less complex than others, it did not mean less harmonic and melodic appeal. Indeed, his real genius was writing for the amateur or dilettante. This is why the music publishers of the time loved him!
Fernando Carulli Sidebar - Did You Know?
He was originally a cellist but eventually turned toward the classical guitar
He became so popular (even famous in Paris) that he remained there for the rest of his life. It was there that he wrote his famous "Method Book" that is still used to this day. Additionally, many classical guitarists have become quite advanced on the instrument by mastering his concertos, studies and sonatas.
Check out this great little video on YouTube of an un-named young person playing an Overture by Carulli (Note: Press "play" button then pause it so it loads properly. Then press "play" again when fully loaded. It should take several minutes to load)...
Because it's a great way to super-boost your playing and become the guitar player you've always wanted I personally recommend these titles. Just click on the pictures below to BUY NOW...
When the great man died in 1841 he had achieved quite a degree of celebrity, especially in Paris. But more than this, he left us rich vein of music that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but instructive and pleasurable as well.
Simply enter whatever term you're searching for e.g. if you're searching for all pages that mention the word "segovia" just type in that term and away you go!
You can even search the Web. Just enter "classical guitar" followed by your search word(s). I hope you find me again!