Francisco Tárrega

Bio

Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909) was a Spanish guitarist and composer whose transcriptions and original works helped establish the modern classical guitar repertoire. Born in Vila-real, he studied at the Madrid Conservatory and later toured extensively across Europe, popularizing the six-string guitar as a concert instrument. His best-known pieces, including “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” and “Capricho Árabe,” remain staples of the guitar canon. Tárrega’s teaching and transcriptions of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin also influenced generations of players and solidified the guitar’s place in classical music.