Fernando Sor

Early Romantic · 1778–1839

Fernando Sor did more than almost anyone of his era to prove the guitar belonged in the concert hall. Born in Barcelona in 1778, he was educated at the monastery school of Montserrat, and after the upheavals of the Napoleonic wars in Spain he left his homeland for good, making his career in Paris and London as a performer, composer, and teacher.

Audiences knew him as a guitar virtuoso of unusual refinement, and he wrote for his instrument the way pianists of the day wrote for theirs: sonatas, variations, and above all studies, short pieces that teach technique while working as real music. Guitar students still grow up on them two centuries later. He also composed ballets and songs, but the guitar music is what survives in daily use.

Start with a good recital of his guitar studies, where his blend of song and craft is easiest to hear.

97 works in the catalog, across 2 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

2 Themes variés and 12 Minuets, for guitar, op. 11
3 Duets, op. 55
3 Pequeños Divertimento, op. 61
3 Pièces de Société, op. 33
3 Salon Pieces, op. 36
6 Arias from Mozart's 'Magic Flute', op. 19
6 Bagatelles, op. 43, "Mes Ennuis"
6 Divertimenti, op. 2
6 Divertimenti, op. 8
6 Divertimenti, op. 13
6 Petites Pièces faciles, op. 45, "Voyons si c'est ça"
6 Petites Pièces Progressives, op. 47
6 Short Pieces, op. 5
6 Valses, op. 39
6 Valses et un Galop, op. 57
6 Valses faciles, op. 44bis
6 Waltzes, op. 17
6 Waltzes, op. 18
6 Waltzes, op. 51, "A la Bonne Heure"
8 Small Pieces, op. 24
12 Etudes, op. 6
12 Etudes, op. 29
24 Etudes, op. 31
24 Etudes, op. 35
24 Little Progressive Etudes, op. 44
25 Progressive Etudes, op. 60
Andante y allegretto, for guitar
Caprice, op. 50, "Le Calme"
Complete Method for the Spanish Guitar
Cuarta Fantasía, op. 12
Divertimenti, op. 23
Divertissement, op. 38
Divertissement militaire, op. 49
Duet, op. 62
Est ce bien ça?, 6 pieces, op. 48
Estudio XIX
Fantaisie, op. 4
Fantaisie, op. 10
Fantaisie, op. 46, "Souvenir d'amitié"
Fantaisie, op. 54bis
Fantaisie, op. 56, "Souvenirs d'une soirée à Berlin"
Fantaisie in D
Fantasie, "Les Adieux"
Fantasie, op. 41, "Les Deux Amis"
Fantasie, op. 58
Fantasie, op. 63, "Souvenir de Russie"
Fantasie in G major, op. 21, no. 5
Fantasie no. 1 in C major, op. 7
Fantasie Villageoise, op. 52
Fantasie Élégiaque, op. 59
Fantasy, op. 30, no. 2
Fantasy, op. 30, no. 7
Fantasía, op. 7
Folies d'Espagne et un menuet, op. 15a
Grand Sonata, op. 22
Grand Sonata, op. 25
Gran Solo, op. 14
Introduction, Theme, and Variations, op. 20
Introduction, Theme and Variations on a theme from Mozart's 'The Magic Flute,' Op.9
Introduction and Variations on 'Gentil Housard', op. 27
Introduction and Variations on 'Qe ne suis-je la Fougère', op. 26
Introduction and Variations on the Air 'Marlborough', op. 28
L'Encouragement, op. 34
L'encouragement, op. 34, no. 4
La Candeur
La Romanesca, for violin and guitar
Le Premier Pas Vers Moi, op. 53
March du Ballet de Cendrillon
Marche funebre pour harpolyre
Minuet in C
Minuet in D
Morceau de Concert Op.54
Petites pièces, op. 42
Six Divertimenti, op. 1
Sonata in C major, op. 15, no. 2
Sérénade, op. 37
Tema variado, WoO
Theme, Variations, and Menuet, op. 3
Thème varié in C major, op. 15c
Variations in C major, op. 11a
Variations on 'Ye Banks and Braes', op. 40
Variations on a Theme of Mozart, op. 9
Variations on La Folia and Minuet, op. 15
Variations on Paisiello's 'Nel Cor Più Non Mi Sento', op. 16

Vocal

12 Seguidillas for voice and guitar
Acuerdate bien mio
Andante expressivo
Andante maestoso
Cesa de atormentarme
Como ha de resolverse
De amor en las prisiones
El que quisiera amando
Las mujeres y cuerdas
Mis descuidados ojos
Muchacha y la verguenza
Preparame la tumba
Si dices que mis ojos

Related composers

Keep a listening journal.

Opus is free on the App Store.