Classical Corner VII

Domenico Scarlatti (26 October 1685 – 23 July 1757) was an Italian composer who spent much of his life in the service of the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He is classified as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style. Like his renowned father Alessandro Scarlatti he composed in a variety of musical forms, although today he is known mainly for his 555 keyboard sonatas.

The original key of this Sonata is C minor — here it is transposed to E minor to lie better on the guitar.

Classical Corner VI

I’ve completed my recordings of Abel Carlevaro’s five “Preludio Americanos” with these two performances.

Campo is the 3rd of the “Preludios Americanos” Along with the 5th, this is probably the most popular of the “Preludios”, due to its simple but haunting melody.

Ronda is the 4th of the “Preludios Americanos”. It features a nursery-rhyme style main theme and a quirky middle section.

Classical Corner V

This is the 2nd of the “Preludios Americanos” by the Uruguayan guitarist and composer Abel Carlevaro (1916–2001). I had the great fortune to twice attend his master classes and hear his flawless playing in concert.

I also had the opportunity to see that he was a fine and gentle person of good humor. As a guitarist, he is one of my primary influences.

He was a virtuoso performer, classical guitar composer and teacher. He established a new approach to guitar technique, based on anatomical principles.

He had a successful career as a concert artist and gained the admiration of musicians such as Heitor Villa-Lobos and Andrés Segovia. As a composer, he was also an important contributor to modern guitar music.

Classical Corner IV

This is the 5th and last of the “Preludios Americanos” by the Uruguayan guitarist and composer Abel Carlevaro (1916–2001). I had the great fortune to twice attend his master classes and hear his flawless playing in concert.

I also had the opportunity to see that he was a fine and gentle person of good humor. As a guitarist, he is one of my primary influences.

He was a virtuoso performer, classical guitar composer and teacher. He established a new approach to guitar technique, based on anatomical principles.

He had a successful career as a concert artist and gained the admiration of musicians such as Heitor Villa-Lobos and Andrés Segovia. As a composer, he was also an important contributor to modern guitar music.