Composer: Fernando Sor
Edited by: Brian Jeffery
Level: Composed for absolute beginners.
Instrumentation: Solo guitar
Black Clothbound Edition
16 pages
This title is also available separately as a PDF download.
A standard edition for beginning level students. As well as being easy, they are described as delightful pieces often of great beauty. Edited by Brian Jeffery direct from the original editions and with only Sor's fingering, no modern fingering.
From the editor, Brian Jeffery...
Technique
A note for teachers... while today it is considered perfectly permissible to make frequent use of the ring finger of the right hand, Sor himself seldom used that finger except in four-note chords, as he explained at length in his method. When playing the pieces in this book, it may be easiest to follow Sor’s example and to use the ring finger only in chords, not in melodic passages.
It is also clear from his method that he used the right hand thumb proportionately a great deal more, and on higher strings, than we are used to today, something which lutenists are accustomed to. So, you could play melodic passages like those in no. 11 in this book with the right hand thumb and index finger in alternation. It’s easy: try it!
Ornaments and slurs
There are only a couple of ornaments in the pieces in this book, and they can be considered as optional. Slurs also, at this early stage, can be considered as optional.
Editing
Brian Jeffery has corrected some misprints and standardized some repeats. He has translated titles into English from the original French. Tempo indications at the beginning of pieces (such as Andante, Allegretto, etc.) are all original, but indications in brackets (such as rit., mf etc.) are editorial and should be regarded as suggestions only.
Content of Sor’s Sixteen Easiest Pieces:
1. Lesson – Op. 60 no.1
2. Lesson – Op. 60 no.2
3. Andante – Op. 44 no.1
4. Allegretto – Op. 44 no.2
5. Lesson – Op. 60 no.13
6. Andante – Op. 31 no.1
7. Andante – Op. 35 no.1
8. Waltz – Op. 35 no.2
9. Lesson – Op. 60 no.10
10. Waltz – Op. 51 no.1
11. Lesson – Op. 60 no.3
12. Lesson – Op. 60 no.5
13. Andantino – Op. 44 no.3
14. Minuet – Op. 44 no.14
15. Lesson – Op. 60 no.6
16. Allegretto moderato – Op. 31 no.3
More
Anyone who likes the music in this collection of Sor’s Sixteen Easiest Pieces and would like to see more, will find all Sor’s music for students (121 pieces in all) in his Complete Studies, Lessons, and Exercises for guitar published by Tecla, urtext and with only Sor’s fingering (no added fingering).
