In this ambitious series, Bryan Johanson and Jesse McCann seek to address this missing element in the study of classical guitar. In light of the sheer volume of guitar music written over the centuries, not to men- tion early works by the guitar’s plucked-string relatives, the authors’ choices were by necessity limited to a select group of “standards.” These might be considered among the most popular works in the guitar canon, admired over the years by performers, students, and audiences alike for their beauty, musical expression, and idiomatic sonority. There are, of course, other pieces that could have been included. But by choosing works that give a broad survey of styles across musical periods (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and early 20th century) written by some of the guitar’s most important composers, the authors present a com- prehensive cross-section of the essential repertoire for the instrument.
- William Kanengiser
