1. Fernando Sor was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer of the late Classical era and early Romantic era.
21 Facts About Fernando Sor
1. 2.
Unlike modern classical guitar players, Fernando Sor used the smaller, slimmer "Romantic" guitars predating today's familiar Torres instrument.
3.
Fernando Sor was descended from a long line of career soldiers and intended to continue that legacy, but was distracted from this when his father introduced him to Italian opera.
4.
Fernando Sor fell in love with music and abandoned his military ambitions.
5.
Therefore, the young Fernando Sor began to write songs to words in Latin to impress his parents.
6.
Fernando Sor even invented his own system for notating music, as he had not yet received formal training.
7.
Fernando Sor reveals in writings, mainly from the last ten years of his life, that he was greatly attached to this place, and had fond, nostalgic memories of his childhood there.
8.
In 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, Fernando Sor began to write nationalistic music for the guitar, often accompanied by patriotic lyrics.
9.
Fernando Sor was even part of traveling military bands that would play protest music on the streets.
10.
Fernando Sor went to Paris, never to return to his home country again.
11.
Fernando Sor gained renown at first as a virtuoso guitarist and composer for the instrument.
12.
Since France was no longer supportive of his music, Fernando Sor decided to try his talents elsewhere.
13.
Since ballet in London was more popular than opera, Fernando Sor decided to try his hand at this new genre of music.
14.
Fernando Sor had considerable success this time, especially with his ballet Cendrillon.
15.
Fernando Sor had to comply with the demands of the public, though, and most guitarists wanted technically simple, nice-sounding pieces.
16.
Fernando Sor's last work was a mass in honour of his daughter, who died in 1837.
17.
Francois-Joseph Fetis has called him "le Beethoven de la guitare", though he has remarked that Fernando Sor had failed to produce a good tone on one occasion.
18.
Fernando Sor was a prolific and, in his time, quite popular composer.
19.
Fernando Sor's Methode pour la Guitare was first published in Paris in 1830 and translated into English by A Merrick in 1832 under the title Method for the Spanish Guitar.
20.
Fernando Sor lent his name to the instruments of Louis Panormo of London.
21.
Guitars made according to Fernando Sor's design have not yet been located.