Essential Guitar – 33 Guitar Masterpieces, Decca 2-CD Set

Discover the many colours of the guitar

A quiet evening, time spent together or the wish to hear a favourite melody again: Essential Guitar – 33 Guitar Masterpieces brings guitar music to those chosen moments. This Decca 2-CD collection combines familiar works, arrangements and contrasting pieces, moving from tender melodies to lively rhythms and from intimate playing to orchestral breadth.

Music that invites another listen

The journey opens with all three movements of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Myers’ Cavatina, Albéniz’s Asturias and Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra offer further listening pleasures. Bach, Vivaldi, Villa-Lobos and other composers add their colours, alongside the Romance associated with Jeux interdits.

Meet several masters in one collection

Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams are among the featured guitarists, together with Pepe Romero, Eduardo Fernández, Göran Söllscher, Nicola Hall, Alexandre Lagoya, Ida Presti, Paco Peña and Los Romeros. It is a rewarding way to explore different performers and enjoy the character each brings to the instrument.

A musical gift to enjoy and share

Choose it as a thank-you, a gift for a guitarist or an addition to your own classical collection. With over two and a half hours of music, there is plenty to explore. Settle in, choose a disc and give the guitar your attention.

Complete programme of both CDs

CD 1 — 76:58

1. Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez — I. Allegro con spirito — 6:01
2. Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez — II. Adagio — 11:31
3. Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez — III. Allegro gentile — 5:09
4. Albéniz: Tango — España, Op. 165 — 2:16
5. Myers: Cavatina — The Deer Hunter — 3:35
6. Bach: Prélude — Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a — 3:35
7. Albéniz: Asturias (Leyenda) — Suite española, Op. 47 — 6:14
8. Tárrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra — 4:45
9. Falla: Dance — La vida breve — 3:44
10. Torroba: Torija (Elegía) — Castillos de España — 2:14
11. Torroba: Alcañiz (Festival) — Castillos de España — 1:57
12. Bach: Prelude — Cello Suite in G Major, BWV 1007 — 2:23
13. Vivaldi: II. Largo — Concerto for Lute and 2 Violins in D Major, RV 93 — 5:10
14. Torroba: Romance de los pinos — 1:48
15. Villa-Lobos: Prelude No. 1 in E Minor — 4:20
16. Barrios: Danza paraguaya No. 1 — 2:16
17. Romero: Malagueña — 5:16
18. Ayer y Hoy — 4:13

CD 2 — 75:14

1. Romance (Jeux interdits) — 1:50
2. Albéniz: Sevilla — Suite española, Op. 47 — 4:37
3. Granados: Andaluza — Danzas españolas — 3:59
4. Albéniz: Granada — Suite española, Op. 47 — 4:34
5. Marcello: Andante sostenuto — Oboe Concerto in D Minor — 4:23
6. Scarlatti: Sonata in E Major, K. 380 — 5:08
7. Bach: Courante — Cello Suite in C Major, BWV 1009 — 2:45
8. Mertz: Fantaisie hongroise, Op. 65 No. 1 — 6:15
9. Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 — 4:41
10. Rodrigo: Villano y Ricercare — Fantasía para un gentilhombre — 4:46
11. Boccherini: Andante cantabile — Cello Concerto No. 6 in D Major — 6:15
12. Bach: Prelude in D Minor, BWV 999 — 1:29
13. Brouwer: Canción de cuna — Dos temas populares cubanos — 3:24
14. Paganini: Caprice, Op. 1 No. 24 — 4:45
15. Arnold: Con brio — Guitar Concerto, Op. 67 — 4:26
16. Savio: Batucada — 2:44
17. Romero: Noche en Málaga — 3:59
18. La Alcazaba (Verdiales) — 3:06
19. Alard: Estudio brillante (arr. Tárrega) — 1:47

Questions about Essential Guitar

How many CDs are included?

The set includes 2 audio CDs with a stated total playing time of 152 minutes and 12 seconds, or 2 hours, 32 minutes and 12 seconds.

Is this entirely solo guitar music?

The programme combines guitar pieces with music featuring orchestra, including all three movements of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

Who would enjoy this collection as a gift?

A classical guitar enthusiast, a musician or someone who loves expressive melodies and would enjoy discovering several celebrated performers.