Francisco Tárrega
Francisco de Asís Tárrega Eixea, (21 November 1852 — 15 December 1909) was an influential Spanish composer and guitarist. He is often considered to be the father of modern classical guitarplaying.
Francisco Tárrega’s music and style of guitar playing became strongly influential in the twentieth century. He was central to reviving the guitar as a solo instrument in recital and concerts. His output was modest, with just 78 original scores and 120 transcriptions - mostly for his own use - of great classical compositions. Among his most popular works for the guitar are Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Capricho Árabe and Danza Mora.
He is also the composer of what has been claimed to be "probably the world’s most heard tune": the Nokia ringtone, Nokia tune, or simply Nokia, also used in advertising spots, is based on Tárrega’s Gran Vals. His music also inspired Mike Oldfield to arrange Tárrega’s tremolo study Recuerdos de la Alhambra for the soundtrack of the film "The Killing Fields".
As with several of his Spanish contemporaries, such as his friend Isaac Albéniz, he had an interest in combining the prevailing Romantic trend in classical music with Spanish folk elements, and transcribed several of Albéniz’s piano pieces. The noted contemporary guitarist and composer Angelo Gilardino has written that Tárrega’s 9 Preludios are "… the deepest musical thought of Tárrega in the most concentrated form."
As a composer Tárrega was conservative, restricting his style to the general trends in the second half of the 19th century. A virtuoso on his instrument, he was known as the "Sarasate of the guitar".
Tárrega is considered to have laid the foundations for 20th century classical guitar and for increasing interest in the guitar as a recital instrument. Tárrega preferred small intimate performances over the concert stage. Some believe this was because he played without the nails needed for volume. Others say this was related to his childhood trauma.
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