Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces

I am always weary of any cd that states that it is a must have or that it is essential. That is usually a red flag for you really won't like all the stuff we packaged together to make you think you are getting something good, but we got it cheap so here it is.This is really a nice collection that lives up to its name. I have been listening to it for a few years now, and always return.Here is some detail on what the tracks are.Concierto de Aranjuez, for guitar & orchestra - Joaquín Rodrigo - Neville Marriner - Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonEspaña, album leaves (6) for piano, Op. 165, B. 37: Tango - Celin Romero - Isaac Albéniz - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonCavatina (from "The Deer Hunter") - Stanley Myers - Göran Söllscher - Williams - Mark MillingtonPartita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Prélude - Johann Sebastian Bach - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonSuite española No. 1, for piano, Op. 47, B. 7: Asturias (Leyenda) - Isaac Albéniz - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonRecuerdos de la Alhambra, for guitar - Francisco Tárrega - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonLa Vida breve, opera, G. 35/39 (2 versions): Dance - Manuel de Falla - Nicola Hall - Mark MillingtonCastles of Spain, for guitar: Torija (Elegía) - Federico Moreno Torroba - Andrés Segovia - Mark MillingtonCastles of Spain, for guitar: Alcañiz (Festiva) - Federico Moreno Torroba - Andrés Segovia - Mark MillingtonSuite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prelude - Johann Sebastian Bach - John Williams [guitar] - Mark MillingtonLute (Chamber) Concerto, for lute (or guitar), 2 violins & continuo in D major, RV 93: 2. Largo - Antonio Vivaldi - Gian Francesco Malipiero - English Chamber Orchestra - Eduardo Fernandez - George Malcolm - Mark MillingtonRomanza de los piños, for guitar - Federico Moreno Torroba - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonPrelúdio, for guitar No. 1 in E Minor, A. 419/1 - Heitor Villa-Lobos - Julian Bream - Mark MillingtonDanza Paraguaya, for guitar [No. 1] - Agustín Barrios-Mangoré - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonMalagueña Fantasia for guitar - Celedonio Romero - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonAyer y hoy (Guajiras), for guitar - Paco Peña - Paco Peña - Mark MillingtonJeux Interdits, romance for guitar - Anonymous - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonSuite española No. 1, for piano, Op. 47, B. 7: Sevilla (Sevillanas) - Eduardo Fernandez - Isaac Albéniz - Mark MillingtonAndaluza (Playera), for guitar or other instrument (arrangement of No. 5 of 12 Spanish Dances) - Enriqué Granados - Celin Romero - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonSuite española No. 1, for piano, Op. 47, B. 7: Granada (Serenata) - Isaac Albéniz - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonConcerto for oboe, strings & continuo in D minor, SF. 935 (often transposed to C minor): 2. Andante sostenuto - Alessandro Marcello - Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Alexandre Lagoya - Alexandre Lagoya - Kenneth Sillito - Mark MillingtonSonata for keyboard in E major, K. 380 (L. 23) "Cortège" - Domenico Scarlatti - Alexandre Lagoya - Ida Presti - Mark MillingtonSuite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Courante - Johann Sebastian Bach - Pepe Romero - Mark MillingtonFantasie hongroise, for guitar, Op. 65/1 - Johann Kaspar Mertz - Nicola Hall - Mark MillingtonBachianas Brasileiras No. 5, for voice & piano, A. 390 - Heitor Villa-Lobos - Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Alexandre Lagoya - Alexandre Lagoya - Kenneth Sillito - Mark MillingtonFantasía para un gentilhombre, for guitar & orchestra: 1. Villano y Ricercare - Joaquín Rodrigo - Antonio de Almeida - Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra - Alexandre Lagoya - Mark MillingtonCello Concerto in D major, G. 479: Excerpt - Luigi Boccherini - Gaspar Cassadó - Andrés Segovia - Symphony of the Air - Enrique Jorda - Mark MillingtonPrelude for lute in C minor, BWV 999 (BC L171) - Johann Sebastian Bach - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonTres Temas Populares Cubanos for guitar: Canción de cuna - Leo Brouwer - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonCaprice for solo violin in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1/24 - Niccolò Paganini - Nicola Hall - Mark MillingtonGuitar Concerto, for guitar & chamber orchestra, Op. 67: 3. Con brio - Malcolm Arnold - English Chamber Orchestra - Eduardo Fernandez - Barry Wordsworth - Mark MillingtonBatucada, for guitar (from Cenas Brasileiras) - Isaías Sávio - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark MillingtonNoche en Malaga - Celedonio Romero - Los Romeros - Mark MillingtonLa Alcazaba (Verdiales) - Traditional - Paco Peña - Mark MillingtonEstudio Brillante for guitar - Jean-Delphin Alard - Francisco Tárrega - Eduardo Fernandez - Mark Millington

I really like this CD. I wanted something for a soothing background sound. No voices, just great guitarist.

Lots of instrumental songs, none of which I like or find special. This is perhaps a good album for those that like mediocre and boring music; but mot me. I will keep it just to break the silence of a mediocre day.

While I always prefer CDs featuring a few composers, having a focus, this CD does a great job at going from all the medley of essential guitar pieces. It's got all the ones I'd like to have, in that sense "Essential" is correct. The recordings are good, I knew about half/two thirds of the pieces, and I'm not always wowed but never disappointed by the performances, in some cases very pleasantly surprised, esp. those by Eduardo Fernandez, Nicola Hall, and Pepe Romero. A discovery: the Estudio Brilliante, by Allard (end of CD2). I really like to put this CD in the background at work (on iPod), at home. My wife is a professional musician (violin) and cringes at bad performances and isn't interested in average usually, so it's telling that she also likes this CD. In fact, it's soothing and relaxing enough that it's actually put her to sleep once! Overall, I really like two thirds of the pieces on this CD, the other ones are nice enough (I'll play through, but won't select them expressly), and there are a few great ones. And the price is great. What's not to like?

One wonders how the producers of this two CD set were able to obtain the rights to such outstanding performances, then put the whole thing together and still make money on the product.Economic issues aside, this is an outstanding collection of guitar pieces by the best performers and composers. Pepe Romero, John Williams, Andres Segovia, Julian Bream have several performances each. Some lesser known but excellent performers appear as well. Paco Pena, the superb Flamenco stylist, does two traditional Spanish tunes. Composers include Rodrigo, Albeniz, Bach, Tarrega, Torroba, Vivaldi, Villa-Lobos, Granados, and many others. Stanley Myers' "Cavatina", the theme to The Deer Hunter, fits in surprisingly well, although not strictly speaking a classical piece.Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" played by Pepe Romero, with Marriner's Orchestra of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, is terrific. I liked it better than the more familiar versions of Julian Bream and John Williams. It seems more "Spanish", perhaps due to Romero's flamenco background, but I am only guessing at that. Marriner's superb orchestra certainly adds to the performance.The technical quality seems to be excellent.Highly recommended as an introduction for those new to the classical guitar and a valuable compilation of canonical performances for the aficionado.

I could only give 3 stars because BOTH CD's ARE THE SAME (even though the other is marked cd #2)!. The same thing happened to another reviewer. The manufacturer obviously has "quality control" issues! The first 4 pieces are especially beautiful..."The Tango" and one other by Rodrigo which sounds like a "Matador" piece (brought tears to my eyes). Sure wish I had gotten the other cd as well. Maybe the manufacturer will see this but I doubt it. There are a few by Bach; just not a fan of his. All in all a nice cd.

At least cd#2. Did not receive cd#1.However I ordered another copy and it is the best of guitar!!!

THE BEST SOLO SPANISH GUITAR

Ok bellissimo

I play guitar but am not a classical guitarist, although I appreciate the music and level of playing. I own about 20 CD's of various classical guitarists and I'm very happy with this set, and I'd highly recommend it to others. The sound quality is among the best, the guitar and orchestra sound wonderful... even my wife likes listening to this CD!The music selection includes many "standards" that I have on other CD's, but the guitarist and recording may be different. People who know better than I can debate which pieces of music and which guitarists' recordings should be compiled together to create the ultimate collection of classical guitar music.All I can say is that, if I were allowed to keep only one of my classical guitar CD's, THIS would be it (so far).

A very enjoyable collection of guitar pieces played by various first-rate artists. Recommended for all you guitar lovers out there.

This is just what I was looking for. When one returns from Granada and Cordoba, filled with the romanyic sounds of the Spanish guitar as played in Andalusia,one would only sink away with this music in the background. This CD opens up a listeners curiousity to find out more about the other possible CD's made by the repective musicians.I'm a classic guitar student but have still a long way to go. The music quality of this CD is so good and the best way to enjoy this is by headset and loud enough not to hear surroundig noise.

This CD has impeccably played masterpieces by some of the most accomplished guitar players of our time. I find the more I play the works on this CD the more they grow on me. However, I am also somewhat surprized that one of my favourite songs by the 1960's rock group, "The Doors" called "Spanish Caravan" sounds very similar to the piece by Albeniz entitled "Asturias Suite Espanola", which is cut #7 on Disc #1 of this CD. Well, as one of the Doors' songs observed back in 1967, "Strange Days have tracked us down!" In any case, I don't think anyone who appreciates fine music will be disappointed with a purchase of "Essential Guitar", a two disc set of exceptionally fine music indeed!