Classics of guitar |
Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710) |
Francisco Bartolome Sanz was born on the 4th April 1640 in Calanda of Aragon province; from youth he was called also Gaspar. There is not much information about him, though he was a famous Spanish guitarist, lived at the court of the Kind Philip the IV and his son don Huan Austrian. Sanz studied music, philosophy and theology at Salamanc University, making his knowledge larger in Naples. In Spain Sanz published three collections of Spanish music tablatures (1677, 1675 and 1697). Fortunately, these compositions are kept.
Sanz' book "Instruction de Musica sobre la guitarra Espanola", published in Saragossa 1674 represents methodical advices how to play the guitar with five string rowes and includes many pieces for guitar-dances and phantasies, among them Folia and Sarabanda.
Sanz embodies the time, when the guitar is out of shadow and is wide spread in Spain and abroad, especially in France. But for Sanz' heritage it wasn't positive. After his death in Madrid 1710, his music was forgotten. But Sanz belongs to those old masters whose heritage was reflected in creation of modern composers. For Sanz it was Hoakin Rodrigo. And guitar Knight Andres Segovia made famous compositions of Sanz and Rodrigo.
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