Lágrima for Classical Guitar by Keith Terrett Acoustic Guitar - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1440991

Lágrima (Teardrop) is a romantic prelude for solo guitar by Spanish guitarist Francisco Tárrega. It is one of the best-known original compositions by Tárrega. It has been published by Ildefonso Alier.

Analysis:

Lágrima is a very short miniature consisting of only 16 bars. It takes around 2 minutes to perform and its tempo marking is andante. It has an A-B-A structure, section A being in E major and B in E minor, and has been overwhelmingly highlighted by critics because of its simplicity and melancholic atmosphere. Each section has 8 bars. Section A consists of a very simple and predictable melody with quarter notes and dotted half notes, while the accompaniment has eighth notes. Section B turns a little bit less predictable but otherwise still very simple, with eighth notes on the main voice. At the end of section B, section A is repeated to close the work.[ As usual in Tárrega's composition, Lágrima bears some technical difficulties in spite of its simplicity.

Composed between late 1891 and early 1892, it is one of Tárrega's most performed pieces. Lágrima has not been included in a definitive catalogue of his works. It has been, however, included in other collections of pieces and has been numbered depending on the position in those collections or in recordings.

Musical style:

Tárrega composed music in the romantic style of 19th-century European masters. His conservatory training and familiarity with contemporary classical genres and techniques are apparent in his compositions and transcriptions; these are more sophisticated than those of Spanish guitarist-composers of the previous generation and his contemporaries, e.g., Magín Alegre, Tomás Damas, Julián Arcas, José Viñas, and José Ferrer.

A virtuoso on his instrument, he was known as the "Sarasate of the guitar," although Tárrega preferred small intimate performances over the concert stage.

Tárrega is considered to have laid the foundations for 20th-century classical guitar and for increasing interest in the guitar as a recital instrument.