When it comes to composers for the classical guitar there is a great variety to choose from.
From the Renaissance lutenist John Dowland, Baroque transcriptions from J.S Bach, classical romantic composers like Francisco Tárrega and Isaac Albéniz and more modern composers like Heitor Villa-Lobos. There is no shortage of pieces to keep you both intrigued and challenged in your classical guitar journey.
At number five we have John Dowland.
John Dowland was an English musician and composer of the 16th and 17th centuries. A renowned lutenist and accomplished composer of the time he spent most of his career holding a musical position within the English Court. His most note worthy position was spent as the court lutenist of Christian IV of Denmark.
Dowland was one of the renaissance period's most significant composer of lute solos and there are some ninety works for the solo lute available. Some of his famous works include:
Flow My Tears (Lachrimae)
The Frog Galliard
Lachrimae Pavan
Melancholy Galliard
Often filled with melancholy and energy, here is a video of Bosnian Lutenist and Guitarist Edin Karamazov playing the piece 'The Most High And Mighty Christianus The Forth, King Of Denmark, His Galliard'.
"Who loves not music and the heavenly muse, That man God hates." John Dowland
At number four we have the famous Baroque composer J.S Bach.
Arguably one of the greatest composers of all time Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer born in 1685.
An organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist Bach is considered to be a creative genius.
Although his works were not written directly for the classical guitar. Thanks largely to the work of Spanish Guitarist Andres Segovia we have a huge variety of works available.
Often complex but tender and soft Bach should definitely be a part of any classical guitarist's repertoire. Below is a video of the Guitarist John Williams playing 'Cello Suite no. 1 in G Major'.
Some famous works transcribed for the guitar include:
Chaconne in D Minor
Prelude from Lute Suite No. 4 in E Major
Bach Bouree from Lute Suite No. 1
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." J.S Bach
At number three we have the Romantic composer Francisco Tárrega.
Born in 1852 Tárrega was a Spanish composer of the romantic period considered by many to be the father of the classical guitar. With influences from both Spanish Folk, Moorish and Romantic classical music. He revived the guitar as a solo instrument and was responsible for composing approximately 80 original works and 120 transcriptions.
Some of his most famous works include:
Lágrima
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Capricho Árabe
Gran Vals
Below is a video of the guitarist David Russell playing the piece 'Capricho Árabe'.
At number two we have the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz.
Isaac Albéniz was a virtuoso Spanish pianist who didn't actually compose for the guitar but his works have formed a key part in the classical guitars repertoire.
The music of Albéniz is uniquely Spanish and takes many influences from Spanish folk music and forms a part of the identity of classical Spanish guitar music.
Some of his most famous pieces that have been transcribed for guitar include:
Asturias (Leyenda)
Sevilla
Granada
Mallorca (Barcarola)
Below is a video of the guitarist John Williams playing the piece 'Asturias (Leyenda)'.
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." Isaac Albéniz
At number one is the Brazilian Composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer and musician. Born in 1887 in Rio de Janeiro, Villa-Lobos is one of the most creative and ingenious composers of the 20th century. He wrote several orchestral and instrumental works.
His music is a blend of Brazilian folk music and traditional European classical elements.
Some of his most famous works include:
Preludes 1-5 for Guitar
Suite Popular Brasileña
12 Etudes
Choro No. 1
Below is a video of the Guitarist Julian Bream playing the piece 'Choros No. 1'.
"Artists live with God – but give their little finger to Satan. I sleep with the angels and dream of the devil." Heitor Villa-Lobos
This list is non-exhaustive and there many more composers out there to be discovered.