a listeners guide to classical guitar music by era

Renaissance period, the royal courts and European country manors all employed composers and house musicians in this period from the15th century into the 17th (much lute music was written from the reign of Elizabeth I through the Restoration)

mood: lively and rhythmic, sometimes nostalgic, much like an English garden in bloom, of which the guitar sings beautfully, in its many voices.

goes well with: walking down the aisle, often requested for wedding ceremonies, as a lighter more joyful version of ceremonial  music.

Baroque period, this incredibly rich hybrid of native music from “the New World” and courtly European music thrived between the mid- 17th and mid-18th centuries

mood: ranging from sublime to quite simply hot; a distant ancestor of the Buena Vista Social Club, complete with flamenco-like riffs, (an option is to have this performed on a baroque guitar --see Annalisa’s fine Schreiner reproduction, photo)

goes well with: celebrations of all kinds, fine music for lively gatherings

Romantic period, very elegant from 19th century Vienna, London and Paris, by the direct musical descendants of Mozart, but composed for the guitar! This music is toney yet informal; choice background music.

mood: cordial, the polished, urbane music of its time; think of tea at the Plaza hundred years ago with music to match; accessible and never overbearing, it creates an aura of effortless refinement.

goes well with: with warm friends, conversation and fine dining, candlelight.

Twentieth century guitar music, by the distinguished modern composers, rounding out what is sometimes affectionately called “the Segovia repertoire” after the beloved concert pieces performed by the acclaimed Andrés Segovia. Among these are Albeniz,  Brouwer, De Falla, Granados, Lauro, Ponce, Sagreras and Villa-Lobos.

mood: bold, tuneful, a strong musical presence delivered in a small box of strings, a truly impressive artistic touch.

goes well with: black tie events for true sophisticates, excellent for a reception area at  a culturally oriented event; truly classic, this
repertoire has remained the gold standard of formal solo concerts for over fifty years.