Trrega (y Eixea), Francisco

(b Villarreal, Castelln, 21 Nov 1852; d Barcelona, 15 Dec 1909).

Spanish guitarist and composer. When he began the study of the
classical guitar with Julian Arcas in 1862, the instrument was at a
low ebb throughout Europe, overshadowed by the piano. Trrega's
father insisted that the boy study the piano as well, and he became
accomplished on both instruments at an early age. In 1869 he had
the good fortune to acquire an unusually loud and resonant guitar
designed and constructed by Antonio Torres, the famous luthier,
then living in Seville. With this superior instrument Trrega was to
prepare the way for the rebirth of the guitar in the 20th century. He
entered the Madrid Conservatory in 1874, and received a thorough
grounding in theory, harmony and the piano. By 1877 he was
earning his living as a music teacher and concert guitarist; he gave
recitals in Paris and London in 1880, and was hailed as the
Sarasate of the guitar. He married Mara Josepha Rizo in 1881
and they settled in Barcelona in 1885. Within a few years he
displayed a repertory that included, besides his own compositions
in the smaller forms, piano works by Mendelssohn, Gottschalk,
Thalberg and others arranged for the guitar. The Spanish
nationalist composers, Albniz and Granados, were his friends;
many of their works were first transcribed for the guitar by him. He
also adapted movements from Beethoven's piano sonatas
(including the Largo of op.7, the Adagio and Allegretto from the
Moonlight Sonata) and half a dozen preludes of Chopin. During
the years 18851903, Trrega gave concerts throughout Spain. He
toured Italy in 1903. At the height of his fame, in 1906, he suffered
a paralysis of the right side from which he never fully recovered. He
did, however, appear publicly, and to loud applause, in 1909.
Trrega's influence on the 20th century, through pupils who
included Emilio Pujol, Maria Rita Brondi and Josefina Robledo, has
been tremendous. His compositions for solo guitar, not all of which
have been published, comprise approximately 78 original works
and 120 transcriptions; he also made 21 transcriptions for two
guitars. Among his most famous solos are Recuerdos de la
Alhambra (a tremolo study), Capricho rabe and Danza mora.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
F. Buek: Franzisko Tarrega, Der Gitarrefreund, xxv (1924), 1822
E. Schwarz-Reiflingen: Tarregas Gitarrentechnik, Die Gitarre, xi
(1930), 911
E. Pujol: Trrega: ensayo biogrfico (Lisbon, 1960/R)
T. Heck: Historical Notes to a Trrega Recital of 1888, Guitar
News, cvii (1970), 24
M. Ophee: The Promotion of Francisco Trrega: a Case History,
Soundboard, viii (1981), 1528, 25661
M. Ophee: The History of Apoyando: Another View, Guitar
Review, no.51 (1982), 613

THOMAS F. HECK