A Selected Survey of Transcriptions, Paraphrases, and Adaptations for Guitar by Franciso Tárrega

Book excerpt: The transcriptions of the nineteenth-century guitarist Francisco Tárrega exerted a significant influence on guitarists in the following generations. This document, intended as a reference guide and historical study for guitarists, surveys Tárrega’s transcriptions, paraphrases, and adaptations. A biography of Tárrega’s life is included, which demonstrates the importance of arrangements in his repertoire. Additionally, surveys of issues associated with the guitar and transcriptions during the nineteenth century, both of which were catalysts for Tárrega to create these works, are also included. These sections are followed by a comparative analysis between several original scores and their arrangements, in order to demonstrate Tárrega’s arranging style. A survey of the research involving Tárrega’s arrangements suggests that a study of this depth will be a valuable resource, as Tárrega’s tradition inspired many twentieth-century guitarists such as Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, and Manuel Barrueco.