Lovely classics

Sweet, gentle tones and resonance: A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces

Graduated from a music school / 21 years of piano experiencesatomi
I began playing the piano at the age of four and spent six years at a conservatory, focusing mainly on classical music while honing my skills. In addition to solo performance, I studied extensively in chamber music and two-piano repertoire, and I had the opportunity to perform twice on stage as a soloist in piano concertos. While not to the same extent as classical, I also learned jazz and pop through practical performance. I was active as a pianist in various settings, including instrumental and vocal/choral accompaniment, performance assistance for other departments, and recording sessions. Beyond the piano, I devoted five years to the trombone in a wind ensemble. I hope to draw on these experiences to share the charm of music with many people.
Piano-playing singer-songwriter / Executive Committee Member, Special Music Festival in Rinku OsakaHousui Sachiyo
I learned to hit the keys on a toy piano, started Electone lessons at six, and began piano at ten. I loved the piano so much that I declared, “I want to go to a music college!” and from junior high I studied vocal music, ear training, and music theory (though I never even took the entrance exam in the end). In my childhood, my saxophone-playing father introduced me to jazz, and my mother to rockabilly. I was utterly obsessed with classical music in junior high. In high school, my grandmother took me to hear live tango performances, and before I knew it I’d become an eclectic listener. Lately, influenced by my high-school-aged daughter, I’ve been listening to koto music and nagauta. I hold the rather rare qualification of ‘Music Proficiency Test Level 3, Western Music track.’

When people hear “guitar,” many probably picture an acoustic or electric guitar, but just as classical music forms the foundation of contemporary music, classical guitar is indispensable when talking about string instruments.

That said, for those who aren’t sure where to start listening, we’ve gathered beloved masterpieces from around the world—from gentle, soothing pieces to dazzling virtuoso works.

Please enjoy the classical guitar’s sweet, mellow timbre and its rich, resonant sound!

Sweet, gentle tones and resonance. A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces (31–40)

Pavane of TearsJohn Dowland

John Dowland, Lachrimae Pavan, classical guitar Nataly Makovskaya

Pavane of TearsJohn Dowland

Dowland, one of the leading composers of English Renaissance music, left many masterpieces for guitar and lute.

Even in the Renaissance era he perfected beautiful inner voices, and the subtly somber quality of his minor keys conveys the distinctive atmosphere of medieval England.

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HachisuzumeJulio Salvador Sagreras

Ami Inoi – El Colibri (The Hummingbird)

HachisuzumeJulio Salvador Sagreras

Sagreras’s composition, El Colibrí (The Hummingbird).

It’s a very fast, high-energy piece.

“Hachisuzume” refers not to a bee but to a bird.

It’s a cool piece that conjures the image of soaring high in the sky.

Known as a work of dazzling virtuosity, it captivates the audience in an instant.

Highly recommended for guitarists—give it a listen.

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Grand SonataNiccolò Paganini

Niccolo Paganini – Grand Sonata for Guitar and Violin. Allegro Risoluto

Grand SonataNiccolò Paganini

Paganini, synonymous with the genius violinist, was also a guitarist.

This Grand Sonata is a large-scale work in three movements, brimming with the vitality of Romantic music.

Although it was originally written with violin accompaniment, the guitar is the leading voice, and it is often performed as a guitar solo.

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FoliosTakemitsu Tōru

Folio(s): Toru Takemitsu

FoliosTakemitsu Tōru

Toru Takemitsu, a composer who blends the ancient five-tone scales of Japan with the distinctive colors of Western contemporary music, also left remarkable works for the guitar.

His piece Folios consists of three movements, each with a contrasting structure.

The novelty of its sounds and forms will likely be striking to those unfamiliar with contemporary music.

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Night SongBenjamin Britten

Marcin Dylla plays Nocturnal by Benjamin Britten

Night SongBenjamin Britten

Britain produced an unparalleled genius of the guitar in Julian Bream, and this piece was written by Britten for Bream.

It is a highly original work with a new sound, distinct from the Spanish repertoire, German music, and the Romantic tradition.

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Sweet, gentle tones and resonance. A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces (41–50)

SalvadorEgberto Gismonti

Egberto Gismonti – Salvador – Heineken Concerts 99

SalvadorEgberto Gismonti

Egberto Gismonti, a Brazilian guitarist and pianist, studied music under renowned classical teachers, and as his pieces gradually began to be performed by classical guitarists, I think it’s now fair to include him in the classical realm.

His powerful Brazilian rhythms and astounding virtuosity make him, in my view, one of today’s geniuses.

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OdeonErnesto Júlio Nazareth

ODEON Ernesto Nazareth per chitarra/ guitar/ violão

OdeonErnesto Júlio Nazareth

The boom of the Spanish guitar spread across the sea to Latin America, its trading partner, where it also became popular.

Sinopoli was an Argentine composer and became one of the roots of the guitar-centered music known as Argentine folklore.

Nazareth’s music features the strong rhythms characteristic of South American music.

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