Spanish

A Concise History of the Classic Guitar - Book MB 98412

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By Graham Wade. Mel Bay Publications.

A Concise History of the Classic Guitar by Graham Wade, one of the foremost international writers on the guitar, explores the history of the instrument from the 16th century to the present day. This compact assessment of five centuries of fretted instruments cover the vihuela in Spain, the history of four-course and five-course guitars, the evolution of tablature, and developments in the six-string guitar in the 19th century. The work also charts the contribution of leading composers, performers and luthiers of the 20th century, and evaluates the influence of Segovia, Llobet, Pujol, Presti, Bream, Williams, etc., among the world's famous guitarists. This book, intended for the general public and guitar students of all ages, is the first interpretative history of the classic guitar to be published in the 21st century, and will be eagerly welcomed by all lovers of the instrument.

Agustin Barrios - The Complete Guitar Recordings 1913-1942 - Compact Disc MB CHR002

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Historical evidence suggests that Agustön Barrios MangorÈ was the first guitarist (1910-1913) to take advantage of the then relatively new invention the "Gramophone." No sophisticated playback equipment existed at the time and musicians were expected, due to expense, to commit to disc a spontaneous interpretation. Very few were able to do this and the result of Barrios' ability to record, in what was almost certainly a "one take" situation, has left classical guitarists and admirers of guitar music a legacy from one of the greatest guitarist composers. This 3-disc set reproduces all of Barrios' 78 rpm recordings from the Atlanta, Odeon, and Artigas labels as well as a few home recordings. Great effort, together with the latest technology, has been used to enhance the audio quality in this important re-issue. Total duration: 3 hrs, 17 min, 32 sec.

Carlevaro Plays Carlevaro CHR005

by Abel Carlevaro World renowned guitarist Abel Carlevaro playing 11 of his own works. Recorded in 1985. Pieces include the five-movement “Preludios Americanos,” three Estudios, and the sonata “Cronomias” with generous liner notes on each piece.

Concierto Antillano - Guitar Solo Part - for Guitar and Orchestra - Book MB 98955G

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By Ernesto Cordero. Mel Bay Publications.

This concerto for guitar and orchestra was composed by Ernesto Cordero, one of Puerto Rico's outstanding contemporary composers. The pastoral first movement portrays the idyllic Antillean landscape using a combination of continental Spanish and Antillean Spanish Creole influences, which are most discernible in the lush, romantic cadenza. The second movement is distinguished by the alternation of two melodies: one, a melody blending a number of ancient influences, and the second distinctly Cuban in nature. This movement was inspired by the peaceful summer calm of the Antillean seas. The third movement is the only one in the work to draw directly on Puerto Rican folklore, quoting a fragment of the seis milonga, a traditional dance. This excerpt is united in this movement with its familiar Argentinean counterpart. The last movement is the most challenging movement of the three for the guitar soloist, demanding a nearly virtuosic performance. 16 large-format (13.75" x 10.25") pages. Intermediate - Advanced level.

Concierto Antillano - Score - for Guitar and Orchestra - Book MB 98955S

By Ernesto Cordero. Mel Bay Publications.

This concerto for guitar and orchestra was composed by Ernesto Cordero, one of Puerto Rico's outstanding contemporary composers. The pastoral first movement portrays the idyllic Antillean landscape using a combination of continental Spanish and Antillean Spanish Creole influences, which are most discernible in the lush, romantic cadenza. The second movement is distinguished by the alternation of two melodies: one, a melody blending a number of ancient influences, and the second distinctly Cuban in nature. This movement was inspired by the peaceful summer calm of the Antillean seas. The third movement is the only one in the work to draw directly on Puerto Rican folklore, quoting a fragment of the seis milonga, a traditional dance. This excerpt is united in this movement with its familiar Argentinean counterpart. The last movement is the most challenging movement of the three for the guitar soloist, demanding a nearly virtuosic performance. The full score calls for flute, oboe, clarinet in B-flat, bassoon, horn in F, trumpet in B-flat, timpani, and strings in addition to the guitar soloist. Orchestral parts are available for rental from the publisher. This conductor's score is 60 large-format (13.75" x 10.25") pages. Intermediate - Advanced level.

EDUARDO FERNANDEZ: TECHNIQUE MECHANISM LEARNING - BOOK MB 20069

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Mel Bay Publications. Only available in the Western Hemisphere countries.

Here is a book for guitar students who wish to develop their instrumental capabilities to the point of mastery. This book, while not a method, is an attempt to help students internalize the most important aspects of practicing and performing music: Mechanism, the set of acquired reflexes that makes playing the guitar possible; Technique, the procedures to follow in order to master a given passage or overcome a given difficulty; and Learning a Mechanism or Technique, the process of acquiring a reflex or of mastering a passage or overcoming a specific difficulty. The exercises strive to ingrain proper techniques and mechanisms both physically and mentally, making the interpretation of music as natural to the guitarist as walking. The author encourages the student to conquer musical difficulties through critical and intelligent analysis rather than mere repetition. These techniques are intended to return the indispensable feeling of creative playing to musical work, having freed the student from consciously focusing on the physical aspects of playing. Musical examples are in standard notation only. Intermediate level. 80 Pages.

Ernesto Cordero - Diez Piezas De Juventud - Book MB 99135

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Mel Bay Publications.

This album is made up of ten pieces for classic guitar solo that are as useful to the student as they are to the guitar professional or concert artist. Taking into consideration the technical and interpretive development of a young student, the composer has sequenced them in a more or less progressive order. The Five Sonorous Sketches are short pieces that were conceived with a didactic factor in mind. They deliberately combine arpeggios, chords, harmonics and scales, as well as other technical and interpretive elements. The Four Impressions, inspired by Franz Kafka's novel The Metamorphosis, are not technically difficult, but offer an interpretive challenge. The final piece is an Homage to Edgard Degas, the French painter and sculptor. It evolves in an impressionistic atmosphere reminiscent of Degas' work. Introduction in English and Spanish. Music in notation only. Intermediate level.

Ernesto Cordero - El Carbonerito - Book/CD MB 99348BCD

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Mel Bay Publications.

This solo piece for classic guitar is a musical theme with five variations based on an ancient nursery melody very popular in Spain and Spanish America. This musical theme is based on an ancient Spanish romance, whose oldest form appears in a gothic parchment dating from the 15th century. The most recent or modern version of this romance is from the last third of the 19th century. The version given here, "Little Coal-Heaver Boy," is one of the best known. This arrangement was a mandatory piece in the thirteenth edition of the renowned International Guitar Contest sponsored by French Radio in 1987-1988. These variations were dedicated to Robert J. Vidal, contest founder and were composed in Puerto Rico in the year 1986. They are presented here in notation only. The recording was made in 1988 by Scott Tennant. Intermediate to advanced in difficulty.

Ernesto Cordero - Preludios Primaverales - Book MB 99136

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Mel Bay Publications.

These five short pieces for classic guitar solo are titled "Preludios Primaverales" (Spring Preludes) because they represent some of the composer's earliest compositions. Preludes No. 3 and 4 were written in 1967, when the composer was beginning guitar study at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid at the age of 21. This, he feels, contributed to the spirit and transparency of these short pieces. The pieces are presented here in standard notation only. For intermediate to advanced classical guitar. Intermediate level.

Ernesto Cordero - Two Popular Andalusian Themes - Book MB 99134

Mel Bay Publications.

Los Cuatro Muleros (The Four Mulers) and En el CafÈ de Chinitas (The Chinitas CafÈ) are two popular Andalusian songs of exquisite taste that probably date from the beginning of the 19th century. These popular songs were compiled by the great Spanish poet, Federico Garcöa Lorca (1898-1936), who loved to play them on the piano. Here they are arranged for solo classic guitar in standard notation only. Intermediate level.

Ernesto Cordero: Pregunta and Mapeyé MB ECH739

Two Works for Guitar Solo

Book by Ernesto Cordero - These two compositions for guitar solo, Pregunta and Mapeyé, are both conceived in the same harmonic language. They are based on the continuous variations of a harmonic sequence known as "andalusian" or "Phrygian" cadence, which is frequently used in South-Spanish folklore. Building on this foundation, the composer has added a "flamenco" touch to the music. Notation only.

Ernesto Cordero: Renunciar and Entre guitarra y voz MB ECH756

Two Sentimental Songs for Guitar & Voice

Book by Ernesto Cordero - These two songs for voice and guitar come from the writings from Gilberto Concepcion Suarez and well known Puerto Rican pop singer Danny Rivera. These pieces blend the musical orientations of classical and pop music together. Standard notation only. Full score format for voice and guitar.

Guitar Music from Tres Libros de Musica MB 99229BCD

Tres Libros de Musica

The oldest surviving music for the guitar. Transcribed and edited by Eric Waters. Mel Bay Publications.

In 1546, forty-four years after the final voyage of Christopher Columbus and while the Spanish Conquistadors swept through the Americas, Alonso Mudarra published his Tres libros de música (Three Books of Music). These books, devoted primarily to music for the vihuela, voice and harp also contain six pieces that are described by The New Harvard Dictionary of Music as "the earliest printed music" for the guitar. In this case- that would be the 4-course Renaissance guitar.

In Guitar Music from Tres libros de música, George Washington University guitar instructor Eric Waters has transcribed and edited these six selections from the original 16th century tablature. Each piece is presented both in standard musical notation and in a modern adaptation of the original tablature (with mensural rhythms printed above). Tablature and music are printed separately to eliminate page turns.

The companion CD for this book was recorded on a 1995 José Ramirez 1-A traditional concert guitar (650 mm string length), with a capo at the third fret to better approximate the range of the Renaissance guitar and facilitate use of the original fingering. While the Renaissance guitar was tuned proportionately the same as the first four strings of the modern guitar (D-G-B-E low to high), the 1st piece in the book is tuned like a 4-string version of dropped-D tuning (C-G-B-E). These arrangements judiciously avoid the use of the 5th and 6th strings of the modern guitar to better emulate the original Renaissance model. Intermediate level. 32 Pages.

Guitar Music of Carlos Garcia Tolsa

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Guitarist Pentti Hildén presents the world premiere recording of the guitar works of Carlos García Tolsa. With the exception of “Al fin solos” and “Meditación”, this collection consists of characteristic dances including waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, habaneras, and a gavotte.

To most guitarists, the parlor music style in evidence here is familiar in the works of Tárrega and Barrios, both of whom were influenced by García Tolsa. Easy to listen to and offering few surprises, the delight of this music lies in the skill with which these pieces were written. In a very natural and controlled way, the music modulates from one key to another and beautiful bass lines created by the generous use of chord inversions give the music an elegant and sophisticated character.

Author/performer Pentti Hildén studied the classical guitar at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he received his diploma in 1983. By coincidence, he lives in a small town near Helsinki named Tolsa.

Homage to Villa-Lobos and Other Compositions

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By Charles Postlewate

This is the first compilation of guitar music for a right hand technique that includes the little finger. The 12 complete compositions include original pieces by Charles Postlewate (Homage to Villa-Lobos, Variations on a Theme of Prokofiev and Improvisation on Green Dolphin Street), transcriptions of piano pieces by Claude Debussy (La puerta del vino and Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum), arrangements of Peruvian popular songs (José María and Virgins of the Sun) and new editions of standard repertoire pieces - two studies by Fernando Sor and the beautiful tremolo study by Agustín Barrios, An Alm for the Love of God. Postlewate also includes excerpts of two other standard repertoire pieces by Federico Moreno Torroba (Sonatina) and Heitor Villa-Lobos (Prelude #2) - which are published elsewhere under copyright restrictions - to show the advantage of using the little finger. These pieces demonstrate new right hand techniques for the classical guitar that use the little finger in the playing of scales, chords, arpeggios, tremolos and harmonics. They also show the advantage of using the little finger for speed, accuracy, strength and balance. All of these compositions are recorded by Postlewate on the accompanying 60 minute CD, HOMAGE TO VILLA-LOBOS - MB 98711CD. This book is a companion to MB 98710 - RIGHT HAND STUDIES FOR FIVE FINGERS using Chords, Arpeggios, Tremolos and Harmonics , also by Charles Postlewate.

Lectura Facil Guitar (Easy Reading) - Book/CD MB MM100

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By Rogelio Maya. Publisher: Maya Music.

Lectura Fácil es una guía única en su tipo que ha sido diseñada para aprender a leer música y para que puedas empezar a tocar melodías fácilmente.
Rogelio Maya, autor de la exitosa serie de videos, "¡Tu Puedes Tocar La Guitarra Ya!", te llevará paso a paso desde los fundamentos básicos de entender la estructura de melodías, hasta aprender a tocar tu primera canción... ¡utilizando ejemplos reales de tus melodías favoritas!
Totalmente nuevo y libre de teorías, rompe cualquier barrera con un nuevo enfoque fácil de seguir para aprender melodías, acordes, notas y la posición correcta de los dedos... con guías visuales y ejemplos para que veas todo más fácil. Pero eso no es todo, el disco compacto contiene cada melodía que se encuentra en el libro, al igual que otros ejemplos. Con este innovativo sistema podrás acompañarte, y al mismo tiempo escuchar exactamente cómo debe sonar cada melodía.
Y gracias al sistema de tablatura (un diagrama fácil que te muestra en que cuerdas y trastes colocar los dedos), podrás ejecutar las melodías sin la necesidad de leer música. Una forma practica e indispensable para los que desean aprender a tocar la guitarra, y también una gran ayuda para los que tienen más conocimiento y quieren mejorar sus habilidades... ¡Lectura Fácil ofrece algo para todos!

Easy Reading is a unique guide which has been designed to teach you to read music and so that you can begin to play melodies easily. Rogelio Maya, author of the successful series of videos, "You Can Play the Guitar Now!," takes you step by step from the basic fundamentals of understanding the structure of melodies to learning to play your first song... using real examples of your favorite melodies! Totally new and original in its approach, the book overcome any obstacle with a new, easy-to-follow approach to learning melodies, chords, notes, and the correct finger position, including visual guides and examples that show everything clearly. But that is not all-- the compact disc features every melody in the book, as well as other examples. With this innovative system you will be able to accompany yourself, and at the same time you will be able to hear each melody exactly as it should sound. Thanks to the tablature system (a easy-to-read diagram that shows you where to place your fingers on the frets and strings), you will be able to play these melodies without needing to read music. A practical and indispensable system for those who want to learn to play the guitar and also a great help for more experienced players who want to enhance their ability. Easy Reading offers something for everyone! This book is in Spanish only. Beginning level.

MELODIES OF SPAIN FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR - Download MB 95055D

Download Only. Mel Bay Publications.

Classical guitar soloist james Kalal has compiled 12 breath-taking guitar solos based of renowned Spanish melodies and themes. Included are works by Milan, Mudarra, Sor, Tarrega, and Calleja. All solos are in notation and tablature. Intermediate - Advanced level. 80 Pages.

Miguel Llobet - The Guitar Recordings 1925-29 - Compact Disc MB CHR001

Series: Chanterelle. By Miguel Llobel. Publisher: Chanterelle. Only available in the Western Hemisphere.

Born into an artistic family, Miguel Llobet Soles (Barcelona, 1878-1938) moved in the company of such musical artists as Debussy, Ravel, and FaurÈ, and traveled with Richard Strauss, Granados, and de Falla. He was a student of Tarrega and a teacher to Segovia. Llobet is known not only for his artistic interpretations of the standard guitar repertoire, including transcriptions, but he is also known for his original compositions and arrangements for the instrument. This compact disc has been remastered from the original solo records made by Llobet circa 1925 and from the original guitar duo records with Maröa Luisa Anido, c. 1929. Total playing time 44:35.

Right-Hand Studies for Five Fingers - Book MB 98710

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Mel Bay Publications.

The product of a 14 year research project, this book contains over 350 studies to thoroughly train the right hand of classical guitarists in the use of all five fingers - adding the little finger to the present four finger technique. These studies build a five-finger technique in the playing of chords, arpeggios, tremolos and harmonics, beginning with the thumb and one-finger combinations and increasing in complexity to the thumb and four fingers. The studies are played over easy, yet interesting, left hand progressions up and down the fingerboard. Postlewate demonstrates how to develop your own right hand studies by including examples from standard classical guitar repertoire pieces by Fernando Sor, Federico Moreno Torroba and Heitor Villa-Lobos at the end of the book. This book is a companion to MB 98711 - HOMAGE TO VILLA-LOBOS and other compositions (music composed, transcribed, arranged and edited by Charles Postlewate for the guitar, using five fingers of the right hand) and its accompanying 60-minute CD, HOMAGE TO VILLA-LOBOS (MB 98711CD). Intermediate level.

TREASURES OF THE SPANISH GUITAR BOOK/CD SET MB 95379BCD

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This fine solo guitar text, written in notation and tablature, offers a brilliant array of music from many centuries. Composers represented (Aguado, Tarrega, Sanz, Angurea, and others) present a colorful spectrum of the melodies, styles, moods, and temperaments that have characterized guitar music of Spain. The instrumentation on the recording is the solo classical guitar. It is a stereo recording, and it does contain every selection in the book. None of the repeats suggested in the printed scores have been taken off or put on the recording. It is up to the discretion of the individual performer to add or delete these as necessary. Intermediate level.