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 (41–50)

SarabandeJ.S.Bach

Göran Söllscher – Sarabande from Bach’s Partita in C minor, BWV 997

SarabandeJ.S.Bach

Sarabande is one of Bach’s well-known pieces on the piano.

While it’s wonderful on piano or harpsichord, the guitar has a special charm too.

The guitar’s tone makes it feel familiar and everyday.

Although Bach is famous for church music, when played on guitar his music feels approachable, so I recommend it to everyone.

Please give it a listen.

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Sweet, gentle tones and resonance. Enchanting Classics: A Selection of Masterpieces for Classical Guitar (Nos. 51–60)

Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6 (unaccompanied)J.S.Bach

Harutaka Mochizuki, Hideaki Kondo “el idioma infinito”

Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6 (unaccompanied)J.S.Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach, a master of Baroque music, also produced a large number of works that have become important repertoire for the modern classical guitar.

Among the guitar arrangements of pieces originally written for instruments other than guitar or lute, many feature distinctive harmonies that cannot be heard on instruments like the violin.

There are also several superb performances of famous cello works arranged for guitar.

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SonataManuel Ponce

Manuel Maria Ponce – Sonata III

SonataManuel Ponce

Latin music that crossed over to the United States also blossomed in Mexico.

Many pieces with a distinctive folk-like resonance unlike other classical genres went on to become one of the hallmarks of the classical guitar, and Ponce’s sonata is a masterpiece that embodies both modernity and national character.

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ReggaetonMarcelo Coronel

Regaton / Te vas milonga (Mariko Tsubokawa & Leonardo Bravo)

ReggaetonMarcelo Coronel

Coronel is a contemporary self-taught guitarist and composer.

He has created many works for classical guitar inspired by Argentine folklore.

Legatón is a piece written for guitar duo, in which the distinctive simplicity of South American folklore and the unique techniques of classical guitar are beautifully fused.

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Concerto in DMario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Castelnuovo Tedesco Concerto op 99 (complete) for guitar and Orchestra Marco Salcito guitar

Concerto in DMario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

With the guitar’s soaring popularity, composers finally began writing concertos for this inherently soft instrument.

When it comes to guitar concertos, the Concierto de Aranjuez is the obvious benchmark, but hidden in its shadow, isn’t this piece the true runner-up masterpiece? It became widely known through Andrés Segovia’s performances.

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12 Spanish DancesPantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados

Granados on Guitar: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Granados’s Death – Twelve Spanish Dances (Complete), Guitar Version / Masahiro Masuda

12 Spanish DancesPantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados

Composed by Granados, “12 Spanish Dances.” The cheerfulness and brightness of Spain are beautifully expressed.

It’s a lovely piece that feels like a trip to a sunflower field.

It’s charming, makes your heart flutter, and makes you want to start dancing.

Highly recommended for children—an excellent work for the whole family to enjoy.

Please give it a listen.

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Joviniana No. 1Sergio Assad

Sergio Assad – Jobiniana No. 1 (Altius Duo)

Joviniana No. 1Sergio Assad

The Brazilian guitar duo the Assad Brothers also took the contemporary guitar world by storm.

This piece is dedicated to bossa nova master Antônio Carlos Jobim, unfolding a unique musical world where bossa nova and contemporary guitar blend together.

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