Improvisación by Federico Moreno Torroba

Classical guitarists will be familiar with the Spanish composer Federico Moreno Torroba (1891–1982) for his numerous contributions to the instrument’s repertory, many of which were inspired by the Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia. 1956 proved to be a big year for Torroba and the guitar—he wrote a total of 32 solo pieces for the instrument during that year, including this one. This Improvisación is a relatively neglected piece. It is really quite beautiful, which makes it a shame that recordings of it are so hard to find! I think the drama in this piece reflects Torroba’s experience as a composer of zarzuelas, which are a Spanish genre of musical theatre. It is easy to imagine a story unfolding to this evocative music. The Mid-Twentieth Century Guitar Series: Part 6