With a total of 381, Francisco Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra holds the highest position as most recorded title in « Guitar’s TOP 100 » by Canadian aficionado Enrique Robichaud. Federico Moreno Torroba’s Suite Castellana occupies the 100th position at 42 recordings.
In his 320-page book the author is not content on merely giving a hit parade of the 100 most played classical guitar pieces but passes on extensive information resulting in a work comparable to the Myth of Sisyphus. Such a work could not have been possible without a dedication for the guitar repertoire bordering on obsession. The author shows a captivating passion for the guitar combined to precision and order but also displays the creativity and fantasy needed for the success of such a book .
Some will have suspected that Robichaud has concentrated on the works originally written for the guitar, so the music of Bach, nor the piano music of Albéniz or Granados is to be found in the book. But, this is being consequent and proves that the number of original pieces is not that small.
This very special book will be much useful to build programs and repertoire. The author lists 555 pieces, 200 artists, 175 composers and 90 guitar makers all accounted for in his computerized discography of 10, 000 recordings. He has been working on the subject for the past 28 years. Under this aspect, « Guitar’s TOP 100 » is representative of the behaviour of guitarists : we play the classic « Recuerdos de la Alhambra » as if it embodies everything the guitar seems to be.
Translation : Oliver Pabst
Classical Guitar's Top 100 