Works by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Friday, March 20, 2009

Here I list his works, with sheet music and audio file if available. Here they are arranged in alphabetical order. You can also search his works using the search bar at left.


A

Abrí la Puerta mi China
Aconguija
Aire de Zamba
Allegro Sinfónico
A mi Madre
Arabescos
Armonías de América


C

Canción de Cuna
Canción de la Hilandera
Capricho Español
Choro da Saudade
Confesión
Contemplación
Cueca (Danza Chilena)


D

Danza Paraguaya
Dinora
Divagación
Don Pérez Freire (Tango)


E

El Sueño de la Muñequita
Estilo Uruguayo
Estudio de Concierto
Estudio del Ligado
Estudio en Arpegio
Estudio in G minor
Estudio No. 3


J

Julia Florida


L

La Catedral
Leyenda de España


M

Mazurka Appasionata
Medallón Antiguo
Minuet in A Major
Minuet in E Major
Minuet in B Major


O

Oracion
Oración por Todos


P

Pericón
Prelude in G Minor
Prelude in D Minor
Prelude in C Minor


R

Romanza en Imitación al Violoncello


S

Sarita


T

Tango No. 2
Tarantella
Tua Imagem


U

Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios (The Last Tremolo)
Un Sueño en la Floresta (Souvenir de un réve)


V

Vals Op. 8 No. 3
Vals Op. 8 No. 4
Variations on a Theme by Tárrega

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Variations on a Theme of Tarrega by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This piece dated in 1939 is one of Barrios masterpieces. It is in the theme and variations form, which in my opinion is the most difficult for a composer, because he has to release a great amount of creativity to "talk" about a theme during a long period of time. Fine examples are Bach's Chaconne and Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.

The main theme is Lágrima by Tárrega. Barrios uses all the techniques possible on the guitar in the six variations that follow the main theme.

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Vals Op. 8 No. 4 by Agustin Barrios Mangore

One of Barrios most played pieces. It was composed around 1923 when Barrios returned to Paraguay.

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Vals Op. 8 No. 3 by Agustin Barrios Mangore

One of the two Waltzes known of the reputed five that made up the Op. 8. Not as famous as the No. 4 but also very enjoyable and challenging.

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Un Sueno en la Floresta by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another tremolo piece and also a masterpiece. It was first called Souvenir de un réve. Barrios later renamed it during his Nitsuga Mangore period. Barrios in this piece used a special guitar made for him with 20 frets that allowed to play a high C. This was unheard of prior to this time.

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Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A famous piece by Barrios. Also his last composition. It shows the artist completely mature, with complete control of the tremolo technique (which he had long time ago) and composition.

There seems to be some confusion about the name of this piece, some call it this way (an alm for the love of God), "The last tremolo" and I even heard John Williams call this piece "The last song".

I had the chance to know the opinion of Luz Maria Bobadilla, a Paraguayan guitarist that contacted one of Barrios' pupils in El Salvador. This pupil said that Barrios didn't give this piece a name. He recalls that one day his teacher called him and said that he was working on a new piece, a "great tremolo". He called this piece "The Great Tremolo", and the name An Alm for the love of God was added later by other person.

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Tua Imagem by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is a vals with a title in Portuguese. The traduction is "your image".

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Tarantella by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Also known as Recuerdos de Nápoles. Barrios' learned the basic melody of this piece from a Brazilian guitarist named Levino Albano da Conceicao.

Barrios turned this simple melody into this marvelous piece of music.

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Tango No. 2 by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another Tango. This is not a little popular tune but a magnificent piece.

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Sarita by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Not much is known about this piece. But it is a little mazurka that he probably wrote for one of his "girlfriends".

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Romanza en Imitacion al Violoncello by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This piece was composed around 1918, during one of Barrios' "sweetest" periods in terms of composition. It uses the same figure during all the piece but it never gets repetitive.

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Prelude in C Minor by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is one of Barrios' most well-known compositions. It is also one of his "easiest". But it isn't easy at all!

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Prelude in D Minor by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another prelude in a minor key. Great piece as all the other preludes.

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Prelude in G Minor by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is one of my favorite pieces by Barrios. As it is a homage to my musical "idol", Bach, of whom Barrios said "he elevates us to the eternal".

This piece is modeled after the Baroque prelude. He made use of inverted pedal points, that is, sutained notes over which are played other notes and chords. If you ever heard the Toccata and fugue in D minor you would know what I'm talking about.

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Pericon by Agustin Barrios Mangore

The Pericon is an Uruguayan dance that is also heard in Argentina. Barrios used the structure of this folkloric genre to create a magnificent piece.

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Oracion por Todos by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another "prayer". The traduction for this would be "Prayer for everyone". Not as notable as the previous one, but coming from the Maestro it is nevertheless a beautiful piece. What else could you expect?

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Oracion by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This means prayer, or as Barrios also called it in some concerts, "Prayer of the evening". This is a beautiful piece, it starts with a tranquil theme, then it has a beautiful modulation and a more "obscure" section.

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Minuet in B Major by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another "happy" minuet, now in B major.

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Minuet in E Major by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This minuet is more complex and technically demanding.

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Minuet in A Major by Agustin Barrios Mangore

One of Barrios' various minuets. This is a beautiful little piece in a major key.

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Medallon Antiguo by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This was dedicated to an opera singer Barrios fell in love with in Rio de Janeiro, it begins with the same notes of a song by Pergolesi which she reputedly sang. Medallón Antiguo means "Old Medallion", it refers to a piece of jewelry she habitually wore.

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Mazurka Appasionata by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is one of the most beautiful and expressive compositions by Barrios. I also consider it one of the most difficult.

It was composed around 1919 and I don't know much about it. I think it was also composed for a woman.

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Leyenda de Espana by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Monday, March 2, 2009

Another “spanish piece”, together with Capricho Español. This is one of my favorite compositions by Barrios. It has everything, technical complexity, emotion and that special Spanish feeling. He was very influenced by Tárrega’s transcriptions of Albéniz’s music.

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La Catedral by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is without doubt Barrios’ most played composition. The original work consisted of two movements: Andante Religioso and Allegro Solemne. Written around 1921.

He was inspired by an experience he had entering the Cathedral of San José in Montevideo. The Andante with its broad chords represent his impressions of an organist playing Bach in the cathedral. The Allegro represent the sensation when he leaves the calm atmosphere of the cathedral. He enters into the street, the real world, where everyone is in a hurry and doesn’t have time to think. He represents this perfectly with incessant 16th note figures.

The Preludio Saudade was written several years later, in 1938, in Havana, Cuba. He later decided to add it to La Catedral, I suppose to have a complete work in the “classical” vein.

1. Preludio Saudade


2. Andante Religioso
3. Allegro Solemne

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Julia Florida by Agustin Barrios Mangore

In 1938 Barrios was through a difficult period of his life, with economical, health and marital problems. He wasn’t able to perform many concerts where he was, in Costa Rica. Francisco Salazar was a good friend that gave the Barrios a place to stay.

He dedicated this piece to Francisco Salazar’s niece, Julia Martinez.

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Estudio No. 3 By Agustin Barrios Mangore

A beautiful piece of music, not just a "study". It has a very pleasing modulation.

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Estudio en Sol Menor by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A short study with an extended use of legato.

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Estudio en Arpegio by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Another didactic piece. A good exercise for both right and left hands.

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Estudio del Ligado by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This study composed in 1941, as most pieces from this time, had a didactic purpose. If you want to really master the legato technique (and tire your hands) learn this piece.

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Estudio de Concierto by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This study was written in 1940. It uses a 16th note arpeggio figure through all the piece, but it never gets boring thanks to his genius use of harmonic relations.

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Estilo Uruguayo by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A pretty piece in "Uruguayan style".

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El Sueno de la Munequita by Agustin Barrios Mangore

"The sleep of the litte girl". Barrios was inspired to write this simple but charming piece when he saw a little girl sleeping.

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Don Perez Freire by Agustin Barrios Mangore

He wrote this tango in 1912 for his friend, the Chilean composer of popular music Omar Perez Freire.

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Divagacion by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Also known as Divagación en Imitación al Violín. That is "digression imitating the violin".

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Dinora by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is a beautiful lyrical piece. Written in 1939 in Costa Rica. He dedicated it to Dinora Bolandi, the daughter of one of his students.

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Danza Paraguaya by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This yes, is an excelent example of a Paraguayan polka, very joyful and at the same time very calmed down.

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Cueca by Agustin Barrios Mangore

The cueca is the national dance of Chile. Here Barrios shows his ability as a folklorist.

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Contemplacion by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A great piece that starts with a tranquil and peaceful theme, followed by a genius tremolo part.

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Confesion by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Also known as "Confesión de amor". That is "Love confesion".

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Choro da Saudade by Agustin Barrios Mangore

One of Barrios most outstanding pieces. It was written around 1929 in Brasil, or perhaps earlier. The choro is a Brazilian popular music style originated in the 19th century. The word choro translates as "cry" or "lament". However, the music is generally upbeat and happy.

This Choro da Saudade is an exception, its name means "nostalgic choro". Barrios was aware of this irony.

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Capricho Espanol by Agustin Barrios Mangore

One of his "spanish" pieces, along with Leyenda de España. It reminds me of Albéniz.

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Cancion de la Hilandera by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A tremolo piece written in Mexico around 1933. Its title means "Song of the Thread Spinner".

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Cancion de Cuna by Agustin Barrios Mangore

A beautiful piece that starts with a melancholic theme in a minor key and ends up in a major key.

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Armonias de America by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is a positive and upbeat piece, played by Barrios in his "Nitsuga Mangore" period as "American Poem".

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Arabescos by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is a legato study, also known as Study No. 4. This is maybe one of his reputed Eleven Concert Studies, of which only some are known.

I'm not sure where the name came from. Arabescos is the spanish word for arabesques, a genre of classical piano music. The most popular being by Debussy and Schumann. Barrios played transcriptions of Schumann's works, so, maybe he is an influence.

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A mi Madre by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This means, "to my mother". Barrios' homage to his mother. It is also called simply "sonatina".

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Allegro Sinfonico by Agustin Barrios Mangore

As its name suggest, this is a symphony in one instrument. It was written around 1918, when Barrios' creativity was starting to flourish.

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Aire de Zamba by Agustin Barrios Mangore

Other piece from the supposd Suite Andina. I love this piece, it is somewhat nostalgic. The zamba (not to be confused with the brazilian Samba!) is an argentinian dance in 3/4.

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Aconguija by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This piece supposedly was part of the Suite Andina, which also included Cueca, Aire de Zamba and Córdoba. They are thematically related, they are all influenced by music from the Andes, but this so called suite has not been seen in any of his concert programs, so I consider these works as separate pieces. Aconguija is the name of a mountain in the Andes.

Barrios also called this piece "Aire de Quena", this means Quena air. The quena is a traditional instrument from the Andes, flute-like. Barrios supposedly based the opening melody on a similar one he heard on that instrument.

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Abri la Puerta mi China by Agustin Barrios Mangore

This is Barrios' earliest known composition. It is translated loosely as "Open the door my girl". The manuscript is dated December 25, 1905. He probably gave it as a christmas present for someone. Althogh it is his first composition it is not a begginers' piece!

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