The Birth of the Classical Guitar

Featuring

Wulfin Lieske
Fernando Sor
Mauro Giuliani

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Recording & Production

This album was recorded at the WDR Funkhaus Köln, Saal 2, from October 21 to 23, 2011.

Instruments

The guitar played on this CD was made in 1810 by Mirecourt guitar-builder Petit Jean, authentically reproducing the acoustic situation of concerts from that era.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Mauro Giuliani and Fernando Sor, the composers on this album, were determined to elevate the guitar beyond its folkloristic role in their home countries.

Compositional Technique

Mauro Giuliani was the first composer to use a notation system that made voice-leading recognizable through upward or downward directed stems, allowing for more complex textures.

Historical Context

The guitar's popularity in Northern Europe around 1800 surged due to a novel, 'Rinaldo Rinaldini', which featured a character singing canzonas to the instrument.

Composer Biography

Fernando Sor's musical career began exclusively after he moved to London in 1815, following Napoleon's occupation of Spain.

Performer Biography

Wulfin Lieske, the guitarist on this album, was the first interpreter to dedicate a CD to the legendary guitar-maker Antonio de Torres, recorded on an original instrument.