Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
     Was born in Barcelona. Primary he studied guitar playing by his father. The musical education he got in the abbey, where he was a chorister. Because of political motives Sor left Spain, but his musical studies were not in vain.
     Fernando Sor was the first guitarist honoured to perform in London philharmonic society where on the 24th of May 1817 he played his symphony for guitar and stringed instruments. Estimating Sor's concerts in London the english press affirmed that he "surprised the audience with his incomparable performing".
     Already being famous composer and artist, after his brilliant concert in Paris and London, Sor came to Russia 1824. He is accompanied by his wife - famous ballet-dancer F. Gyullen-Sor. In Moscow they spent two years, they were in the centre of musical life. Sor performs as guitarist-soloist. In memory of Russia he composed "Reminiscences of Russia" for the guitar duet (op.63) where were used russian songs melodies.

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Matteo Carcassi (1792-1853)
- one of the most famous italian guitarists of that time, composer and pedagogue, follower of F. Carulli. In the guitar history he is known as the author of "School of guitar playing" (1836) and pedagogical compositions. His etudes for the guitar are kept before our days. They are training material for every guitarist and they are considered as classical.
     Matteo Carcassi was born in Florence 1792. He began to play guitar from the childhood and working hard, achieved brilliant virtuosity and elegance. He wasn't twenty when he had in Italy the reputation of guitar virtuoso. 1815 he began to teach guitar and piano play in Paris. During his concert tour in Germany 1819 Carcassi got acquainted with the French guitarist Meissonier who created in Paris 1812 his own publishing house. Two guitarists were good friends and Meissonier published the majority of Carcassi compositions.

Ferdinand Carulli (1770-1841)
- italian guitarist, pedagogue and composer, born in Naples. Primary learned to play the violoncello. Learning to play the guitar without assistance, become a professional guitarist. Beautiful tone, purity and rapidity of the play ensured him success in Naples, then in Paris, where he was favourite of salons.
     Carulli settled down in Paris from 1818. Being the best guitarist of that time, he shared first place with Matteo Carcassi till Ferdinand Sor's return.
Prominent pedagogue and brilliant performer, Carulli published near 300 compositions: pieces for the guitar solo, concerts for the guitar with the orchestra, chamber compositions, which are notable for high instrumental and technical skill.

Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
- the famous italian guitarist-virtuoso, composer, recognized by such authorities as I. Gaidn and Beethoven. He was born near Naples. In his childhood he learned to play violin and flute, at the same time he learned by himself to play the guitar: with 20 years he had such brilliant results that he was recognized in Italy as the best guitarist.
     From 1800 began his concert activity, primary in Italy and France. In 1807 he came with concerts to Vienna, where the musical critics recognized him as the greatest guitarist of the world. Living in Vienna. Giuliani is engaged in concert and pedagogical activity. Among his friends are L. Beethoven and I. Gaidn, violinists L. Shpor and I. Meizender, pianists I. Gummel, I. Mosheles and A. Diabelly.

Dionysio Aguado Garcia (1784 - 1849)
- was born on the 8th of April 1784 in Madrid. He was educated at the church college; there he learned to play the guitar by padre Basilio. Aguado's life isn't rich by external events. 1803 he received as an inheritance a small estate near Aranhues where he lived with his mother for a long time.
Padre Basilio's learner - Dionysio Aguado doesn't achieve success soon - till 1824 his name isn't known. 1820 in Madrid was issued his "Etude collection for the guitar", 1825 this collection was arranged and published again in Madrid but as "School of guitar playing" for the instrument with six single strings. Aguado's school was a great event in guitar pedagogy of that time. It is valuable in our days too.

Francisco Tarrega-Eshea (1852-1909)
- famous Spanish guitarist-virtuoso and composer, founder of spanish school of guitar playing. He began to play guitar in the early childhood. 
      Musical abilities of Tarrega attracted attention to him and with the support of one rich family he came to Madrid and 1874 entered the conservatory, which he had graduated from on two specialities-piano and composition. In spite of good piano potentialities, Tarrega preferred the guitar and gave his concert in Madrid theatre "Alhambra". He had great success and the question is answered - Tarrega is guitarist. Concert tours through France, Italy, Austria, Holland and other countries confirmed the guitarist's abilities. The press compared Tarrega with the greatest performers-contemporaries - violinist Pablo de Sarasate and pianist Anton Rubinstein.

Migel Lyobet (1878-1938)
One of the most important representatives of national school Migel Lyobet was born in Barcelona where he began his musical education and continued it by Tarrega. Lyobet said that he wasn't usual learner who received task to play it at the next time and to have a new one.
     Sometimes he saw the teacher with the guitar in the hands, set and listened and then hurried home with the head full of impressions, weeks fled till he arranged them. 1900 Lyobet made his debut in Paris.
His concerts and tours were in Europe and Latin America attracting attention to the guitar.

Federico Moreno Torroba
was born in Madrid 1891 in a family of musicians. The first teacher of the boy was his father Hose Moreno Ballesteros - brilliant organist and conductor, under whose conducting was performed the ballet of Manuel de Falla's "Love, the Sorcerer" (later this ballet was performed under conducting of Federico Moreno Torroba). After graduating Madrid conservatory of composition class Conrado del Carpio, Moreno Torroba creates symphonic compositions maning him famous, - "Pictures" (under influence of Velaskes and Goya), symphonic poems "La Ajorca de Oro" (1918) and "Soriada" (1919), compositions for violin with the orchestra "Capriccio Romantico". In Spain is very popular his lyric comedy "Luiza Fernanda".

Andres Segovia (1893-1987)
Andalusia. Town Linares. Hose Antonio Street. House, where Segovia was born, isn't kept. At its place is a great building. On the marble plate attached to it we read: "In this house on the 21st of February 1893 was born the guitarist of genius Andres Segovia Torres, outstanding son of the town Linares, 1968".
     In some weeks the family went to Haen. Splendid improvisation skill of Andalusia guitarists and the culture of this ancient earth influenced his attitude.
     1915 Segovia got acquainted with the guitarist Migel Lyobet, thanks to him, Segovia gave a concert in Barcelona in January 1916. But the guitar was not let in large halls. It wasn't a popular instrument and all thought that strength of its sound was insufficient and it wouldn't be heard in large halls.

Emilio Pujol Vilarruby (1886 - 1980)
Born on the 7th of April 1886 near spanish town Lerida in a small village named Granadella, Emilio Pujol Vilarruby, one of the best learners of the well-known guitarist Francisco Tarrega, is considered as an outstanding representative of the guitar school in the 20th century. Estimating his solo concerts in Spain and abroad, musical critics of twentieths put Pujol in one row with M. Lyobet and A. Segovia.
     Pujol began his music lessons from solfeggio studying at the age of 5 years; his teacher was leader of the village orchestra. This lessons didn't go in vain, because afterwards he was a student of municipal music school in Barcelona. 1897 be began to learn playing the bandurria and was one of the students selected as musicians honoured to play in famous musical groups - Catalonian Bandurria and guitar orchestra "Estudiantina Universitaria" at the Paris exhibition 1900. In 1901 young fifteen years old Pujol began to learn by Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909) in conservatory of Barcelona.

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 – 1959)
     Brazilian composer, guitarist. He is one of the great figures in music and the greatest pride of his country. This Pablo Casals' opinion of the brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) shared many outstanding musicians of the XX century; among them were Sharl Munsh and Leopold Stocovsky.
     Founder of brazilian national music, author of "Shoro" and "Brazilian bachians", symphonies and operas, chamber compositions and ballets, folklorist and conductor, initiator of foundation and the first president of Brazilian musical academy - this is not all of Villa-Lobos importance in the world music. Base of his creative activity is the brilliant knowledge of very difficult in structure brazilian folklore (where combined elements of indian, african, spanish-portugesish and other european musical cultures) and selection of national direction.

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Agustin Pio Barrios (1885-1944)
     The outstanding paraguay guitarist Agustin Pio Barrios Ferreira was born on the 23 of May 1885 in San Huan Bautista de las Missiones (Paraguay).
     He began to play guitar from the early childhood, studied playing technique at school by Gustavo Sosa Escalada. From 1910 A. Barrios given concerts in Argentina, Brasilia, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Cuba. At that time appear his first arrangements of paraguay folk melodies and original compositions for the guitar. The important role in improvement of Barrios' mastery in this period played his lessons with the famous spanish guitarist and pedagogue Antonio Khimenos Manion.
     Barrios was the first latin-american guitarist, whom Europe has listened to. 1934 he performed in Brussels, then in Germany and Spain. He had a great success and critics compared his virtuous play with Paganiny.

Maria Luisa Anido (1907 – 1996)
- a remarkable Argentine guitarist, composer and teacher. She was born in the town of Moron near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pupil Domingo and Miguel Prata Lobeta. Throughout the world, it was called 'guitar lady' (The Lady of the Guitar), and for the friends she was just 'Mimita'. Anido musical talent manifested itself very early, talking about her as a miracle child: in 10 years, Maria Anido performed Etude number 22 A major Napoleon Costa. In 1925 he began performing in a duo with M. Lobetom, with successful tours of Latin America. In 1952, she made her solo concert at London's famous Concert Hall Wigmore Hall, and then followed by tours of the countries of Europe. In the 60's - 70's lived in Italy and Spain (Barcelona).

Codina Jose Brock (1805-1882)
Spanish guitarist and composer, was born in Reus, Province Tarregona September 21, 1805. Since childhood, showed a pronounced taste for music, so his father gave him to study with Maestro ear training local chapel and sing in the same parish during religious ceremonies. Since childhood, he began to prefer the guitar. In the early years he played it by intuition, later, having mastered ear training, he was seriously engaged by the "School Games" Aguado.

Marcus Aurelius de Ferranti Zani (1802-1878)
Marcus Aurelius de Ferranti Zani. Concert singer-guitarist and composer. Born in Bologna, July 6, 1802. He is from a family by the name of the He studied at the Lykke where brilliantly demonstrated an innate talent. Very little, he spoke several languages and was a poet-prodigy. He got on one of the concerts of Paganini, and since then awoke in him a passion for music: the concert was a revelation to him. He began taking violin lessons at the Dzherli son, who was engaged in two years, made rapid and significant advances. Even at sixteen had promised to be a great violinist, but how much were all surprised when he suddenly left the violin in order to take up the guitar, which he quickly showed his talent and possession of an instrument, participating in concerts in major cities of Central Europe, where he was considered a great performer.

Bartolome Calatayud (1882-1973)
Spanish composer and guitarist. Bartolome (Bartholomew) Calatayud was born in 1882 on the Spanish island of Majorca (Mallorca), the largest of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. Indulge in a game of classical guitar began in early childhood, headed by Antonio Mestres (Antonio Mestres). He also studied harmony and composition with well-known local musician and composer Antonio Noguera (Antonio Noguera). During his stay in the Spanish province of Valencia continental met with Francisco Tarrega and took lessons from him. He has given concerts in Spain, France, Switzerland, Portugal and Algeria, as well as in the Spanish musical collective tivov toured in South America.

Angel G. Villoldo (1861 - 1919)
Argentine composer and guitarist. He belonged to the old guard, which included Luis Roncal, Bevilakua, brothers and Pedro Posadas M.Kihano. Was president of the "Junta small law", the company established in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the century to protect the copyright of composers. Villoldo - creator of the famous tango "Green ear of corn," which was honored to go to Paris, where he was applauded by all the French from around the world, as those who danced the tango "in the world".

Luigi Rinaldo Legnani (1790 - 1877)
Outstanding guitarist. Born in Italy, Ferrari November 7, 1790 On the instrument, he worked wonders and delights the audience, was a great artist. Conveyed their feelings through the guitar in close contact with the listener. As a composer he has immortalized the name of opus 20 of 36 Capriccio, sketches. Some researchers have sinned against the truth in matters relating to this remarkable man in the world of guitar.

At the age of eight he and his parents moved to Ravenna, where after a while begins to study music. He studied several musical instruments, but was a favorite guitar, which he always paid more attention. In Ravenna, he lived up to 38 years.

Carlos Garcia Tolsa (1858 - 1905)
was born on November 25, 1858 in Hellin, in the province of Albacete, Spain. At the age of 13 he began his guitar studies with an uncle who was blind. In the following year (1872) he was sent to Madrid, where he made the aquaintance of the celebrated guitarist Julian Arcas, who was a dear friend of his blind uncle. Carlos was to study many years with Julian Arcas, and it is thought that Carlos was his favorite student, to the point that when Julian was about to die he told Carlos "I leave the guitar in your hands". Arcas died in Antequera, Spain in 1882. In the next 3 years Carlos performed in the principal capitals of Europe from St. Petersburg, Russia (now Leningrad) to London, England and the Americas as a bandurrista in the "Estudiantino Figaro" directed and formed by Domingo Granados in 1879.

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Francisco Bartolome Sanz (1640-1710)
- 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.

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Isaak Albeniz (1860-1909)
After Sor and his contemporary Dionysio Aguado came the fiftieth period of guitar art decadence. It was a difficult time in spanish national culture. Only at the end of XIX century began the revival, at the head of which were progressive workers of literature, music, painting - the so called generation of the 98th year.
     Just in this time Isaak Albeniz and then Enrique Granados created first specimens of spanish classical music - piano pieces - combination of folk art with high professional mastery.