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Fernando SorClassical Yet Romantic Master"Fernando Sor - One of the great figures in the history of the classical guitar..."
He was in no small way responsible for the resurgence of the guitar in the 18th century, helping it to eclipse the harp as the pre-eminent salon instrument of the day. Born in Barcelona in 1778, Fernando was by definition a classical composer, though he was heavily "coloured" by Romanticism. But he was, by all accounts, a talented composer who wrote operas, ballets, symphonies, string quartets, songs for voice and guitar accompaniment and more. Don't forget to sign up for the monthly ezine to get your free PDF music & videos - Just look right!
Indeed, his first work was an opera performed when he was only nineteen. But he is best known for his method of guitar and theory of harmony, adapted for guitar.
Beethoven is supposed to have stolen the theme for the "Moonlight Sonata" from Sors and, whilst in Russia he wrote the funeral march for Alexander the 1st. Sors even studied violin, cello and piano and was taught composition by Anselmo Viola, who was a major 18th century composer in the Monserrat monastery where he first attended Choir School. Later on, he attended military school and was said to be quite a capable soldier, rising to the rank of captain. He kept composing throughout his military enlistment (even composing patriotic songs to motivate his comrades against the French Napoleonic army, who had invaded them). When the French defeated the Spaniards he was influenced by their ideals of liberty and egalitarianism. He even worked for them in a clerical capacity for some time. This caused the ire of Sor's countrymen. Indeed, he was seen as a traitor by some and found it necessary to withdraw to France with Napoleon's army when they were finally defeated in 1813.
Sors led a somewhat nomadic life after this point but never returned to his homeland. As well as France he went to England, Prussia and even Russia.
Whilst he was in London he started writing his more serious works for guitar. Fernando also continued to play guitar and when he returned to Paris in 1826 he was regarded as the "best guitarist in the world." We know now that he was perhaps the greatest composer for classical guitar of all time. This is despite the fact that when he died in 1839 (of cancer of the tongue) he was all but forgotten and near penniless. A fate unbefitting such a fine composer and player who has enriched the repertoire of the guitar greatly.
Read about...Fernando Carulli Read about...Dionisio Aguado Read about...Matteo Carcassi Read about...Mauro Giuliani Read about...Napoleon Coste Read about...Francisco Tarrega Read about...Joaquin Rodrigo Read about...Manuel Ponce Read about...Heitor Villa-Lobos Read about...Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco Read about...Alexandre Tansman Read about...John Dowland Read about...Nicolo Paganini Read about...Agustin Barrios Mangore Read about...Anton Diabelli Read about...Gaspar Sanz Read about...Luigi Boccherini
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