Francisco Tarrega tribute composition
Aug 23rd, 2007 by skanson.com
To Francisco - Born in Villarreal, Spain, Francisco Tarrega fell into an irrigation channel when he was young, which rendered Tarrega nearly blind. Partially due to this accident, the family moved to Castellon and enrolled Francisco in music classes. He entered the Madrid Conservatory in 1874, under the sponsorship of a wealthy merchant named Antonio Canesa, where Tarrega studied composition under Emilio Arrieta. By the end of the 1870s, Francisco was teaching the guitar and giving regular concerts. A virtuoso on his instrument, Francisco Tarrega was known as the “Sarasate of the guitar”. He later settled in Barcelona, and died there in 1909.
“This violin and classical guitar duet written as a tribute to Francisco Tarrega shows both flash and sensitivity. Written in a classic binary form, this duet echoes minitures for violin and guitar pioneered by the great composer Tarrega. This song was not only written for him but is also the very first classical guitar piece I ever wrote.
Written in late 1992 and finished in 1993, “To Francisco” started as most compositions do. Young composers mimic composers or pieces they have already been familiar with. I am no different. Francisco Tarrega was a great guitar in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and wrote a significant contribution to the classical guitar repertoire. So every classical guitarist plays and studies his music. La Grima is one of those pieces. So fooling around with an idea like La Grima is where the first buds of To Francisco started. (Side note: I recorded a solo version of La Grima on my first CD Peace, Earth, and Guitars and wrote a duet part for La Grima which I recorded for the new disc Duettos Cantabiles. I love that song!)
Where I finished it opens a door that I hesitate to tell you about but I guess I just opened it so here goes! You see, I was playing in a heavy metal/ rock and roll band at the time! We were staying at a five star motel called the Royal Rest in Spearfish, SD. I was alone in the room noodling with my classical guitar when the compositional muse visited me and wham! in a flurry I finished the song. Sometimes it comes that way. Little did I know this would be the song that changed my life. The very next week I met Malcolm Watson of then Watson and Edge. He needed a new classical guitarist and I was looking for a new gig. “To Francisco” was the song that I played for him that got me the job. I spent 2 months going back and forth between the band and Watson until finally joining Watson full time in May of 2003. This is where I started pursuing classical/ acoustic music full time. You see you never know where one little classical guitar song will lead you!
I have convinced Oz my webmaster to give away a $10 gift coupon you can use towards any purchase on the site for the best review of this song so I hope you give that a shot! Click here to go to the page!.”
