Fernando Sor's Fantaisie, Op. 7, was uniquely published on two staves, like piano music, to better accommodate its harmonically rich textures and moving inner voices, though this practice did not become widespread.
Historical Context
During Fernando Sor's time in London, the 'Spanish' guitar gained popularity, replacing the English 'guittar', and was championed by expatriate musicians and soldiers returning from Spain.
Performer Biography
Goran Krivokapić, the guitarist on this recording, has won eighteen prestigious international guitar competitions and received two 'Golden Guitar' awards, including one for best up-and-coming guitarist.
Composer Biography
Fernando Sor, a Spanish-born guitarist and composer, had to flee Spain for Paris after the defeat of the French in 1813, as he had sided with Napoleon's brother Joseph.
Composition History
Fernando Sor's Twelve Studies, Op. 6, and a second set, Op. 29, were conceived as true concert studies, possessing both didactic value and musical merit for public performance.
Cultural Impact
A contemporary critic noted that a new set of arietts by Fernando Sor caused almost as much sensation in London as a new novel by Sir Walter Scott, the author of 'Waverley'.
Cultural Impact
The virtuoso guitarist Andrés Segovia later championed Fernando Sor's music, editing a collection of twenty studies that became a standard for 20th-century guitar pedagogy.
