Essays and Selected MP3 Recordings of
Fernando Sor’s Lessons, Exercises and Studies
This page is dedicated to the studies of Sor. Its aim is to help students of the guitar, especially those who have not heard a gut-strung guitar before, played without nails, and largely without the use of the annular finger. Sor had the ability to write beautiful miniatures for students, with good harmonic movement, elegant melodies, and good Classical and Romantic structures. All these studies are highly recommended.
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From Op.35: Vingt Quatre Exercises très facilesSor: ‘These present Exercises will be particularly useful to those people who will study following the method which I am about to publish, because my principal aim has been to put into practice the theory which it contains’ |
From Op.31 Vingt Quatre Leçons Progressives
No.1 in C Andante
No.2 in Am Andante
No.3 in D Allegretto Moderato
No.4 in Bm Andante
No. 7 in E
No. 18 in Bm Moderato
No.23 in E Mouvement de priere religiouse
From Op.60 Introduction à l’Etude de la Guitare
Most of the first six studies are of one note at a time. On paper they are possibly Sor’s easiest studies, but beware…dangers lie therein. Remember to use only three fingers – thumb, index and middle.
The following two essays were written in 2003 for my students. The first is an introduction to Fernando Sor’s technique, and how if differs from that of Aguado. The second is concerned with an Introduction to the art of the improvised Prelude and Cadenza. Both essays require revision…maybe some day…but both still are (hopefully) useful introductions.
Some Introductory Remarks PII2
Fernando Sor’s Guitar Technique – an overview
Preludes, Cadences and Composition for Guitar in 19th-Century Teaching Practice
Facsimile Score of Horetsky’s Preludes, Cadences and Modulations in every Key for the Guitar
Fernando Sor
The Sixteen Easiest Pieces
The leading present-day publisher of Sor’s music is Tecla Editions, run by Dr Brian Jeffrey, author of an essential-read biography of Sor, as well as this collection of sixteen of Sor’s ‘easiest pieces’. I think that this is an excellent edition for students at an early stage, and I present below free mp3 files of each piece in the book.
If my sound files sound different to what you have heard before or have tried to play yourself, it is very likely because my guitar – a modern copy of a Panormo guitar (among those instruments recommended by Sor in his Method) – is tuned down a semitone from modern pitch, and is also strung with gut treble strings and silk bass strings manufactured by Aquila Corde. I also use a right-hand technique based upon that outlined by Sor in his Method (also published by Tecla), that is, mainly thumb, index and middle fingers, with only rare use of the anular finger, and I also play without nails, as advocated by Sor.
So, the instrument, the strings and the technique – all of these things make a difference. You must make your own mind up about the path you will take in the future with this music. For the moment, it is perfectly acceptable to play these pieces on a modern guitar, with nylon strings plucked by the nails…but I hope you appreciate the difference in sound.
