The Classical Guitar

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'La Catedral' by Agustín Barrios 

Today is the birthday of the Australian virtuosic guitarist, John Williams. Take a listen to his beautiful recording of 'La Catedral' by Barrios - his best-known and most played composition, inspired by J.S. Bach:



Agustín Barrios

Agustín Pío Barrios was born in the Missiones district of southern Paraguay on 5 May 1885 and died on 7 August 1944 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Barrios is considered to be one of the greatest performers and most prolific composers for the guitar. Barrios was a constant traveller, until late in his life, where Barrios took up a teaching position at the Declamation and Conservatorium Rafael Olmedo. There, he left a written teaching method including 10 duos and other arrangements for him to play in concert with his students. These were preserved in handmade copies for the students. The entirety of these materials and his original compositions were stolen from his house after his death. 

Agustín Pío Barrios, 1885-1944 (died aged 59 from a heart attack)

The works of Barrios eventually began to trickle out of El Salvador, most notably by Alirio Diaz who then passed a few scores to the young John Williams in 1955. Williams' recordings of Barrios in 1977 took the world by storm and became the seminal point in the dissemination of Barrios' music. 'El Libro de Oro' was published in seven volumes in honour of the 75th anniversary of the composer. 

Information collated from 'Naxos'


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