Tárrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra: Solo Guitar
The music of Francisco Tárrega / fingerings by Scott Tennant
Level: Late Intermediate
Item: 00-PB-0001848
$8.99
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Description
Classical guitarists, both students and professional performers, require the same high-quality editions that their pianist colleagues have come to expect from Alfred Music. Our Classical Guitar Masterwork Editions continue the Alfred tradition of providing carefully edited, beautifully presented music for practice and performance.
This edition of Tárrega's classic tremolo-based composition "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" includes background information on the composer, detailed tremolo lessons, and thoughtful fingerings from Scott Tennant, one of the world's premier guitar virtuosos. The Alhambra is a fortress in Spain with many fountains, and the tremolo in this piece is inspired by the sound of the water running through these fountains. Tennant talks about his own history as a young student learning this piece and shares the method he ultimately developed for mastering the art of the tremolo, a technique that is elusive for many classical guitarists. He provides a progressive set of exercises designed to take you up to a level of familiarity with, and control of, the right-hand patterns one must master in order to develop a smooth tremolo. You'll find two additional versions of "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" in this edition---one for the right hand alone, and another in block chords so you can focus on mastering the left-hand connections and shifts required for a musical performance. In this one book, you have both one of the crown jewels of the guitar repertoire, and a way to develop the technique needed to play it. This is a must-have edition for all classical guitarists.
This edition of Tárrega's classic tremolo-based composition "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" includes background information on the composer, detailed tremolo lessons, and thoughtful fingerings from Scott Tennant, one of the world's premier guitar virtuosos. The Alhambra is a fortress in Spain with many fountains, and the tremolo in this piece is inspired by the sound of the water running through these fountains. Tennant talks about his own history as a young student learning this piece and shares the method he ultimately developed for mastering the art of the tremolo, a technique that is elusive for many classical guitarists. He provides a progressive set of exercises designed to take you up to a level of familiarity with, and control of, the right-hand patterns one must master in order to develop a smooth tremolo. You'll find two additional versions of "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" in this edition---one for the right hand alone, and another in block chords so you can focus on mastering the left-hand connections and shifts required for a musical performance. In this one book, you have both one of the crown jewels of the guitar repertoire, and a way to develop the technique needed to play it. This is a must-have edition for all classical guitarists.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Classical Guitar Masterworks
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
24
SKU:
00-PB-0001848
More about this title
About the Composer: The music of Francisco Tárrega
Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909) transformed the classical guitar from a salon curiosity into a concert instrument worthy of the world's great halls. A Spanish virtuoso and composer, he developed a systematic approach to right-hand technique and created a substantial body of original works that remain central to guitar pedagogy today. His students went on to found the modern classical guitar tradition, making Tárrega's legacy inseparable from how guitarists are taught.
Tárrega's compositions balance technical demands with genuine musicality. Rather than writing virtuosic display pieces, he crafted works that reward careful listening and patient study. "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" exemplifies this philosophy: the tremolo technique required to perform it became a foundational skill for classical guitarists, and the piece itself continues to captivate audiences with its evocation of Spanish architecture and water.
Why we love this
Scott Tennant's editorial voice makes this far more than a score. His pedagogical framework breaks down tremolo mastery into learnable, progressive steps, and the inclusion of stripped-down practice versions (right hand alone; block chords) gives students concrete ways to isolate and solve technical problems. For teachers, this means one carefully constructed book that functions simultaneously as a technical studies collection and as a gateway to one of the guitar repertoire's most rewarding pieces.
What to expect
The tremolo creates an shimmering, almost impressionistic texture that evokes the play of light on water. Beneath that surface lies a lyrical melody supported by subtle harmonic movement, inviting performers to balance technical precision with expressive restraint. Playing it well feels less like conquering a technique and more like unlocking a miniature world of Spanish color and atmosphere.
Who it's for
Late intermediate classical guitarists ready to tackle a canonical work and the technical challenges it presents. This edition serves students who need structured guidance in tremolo technique and teachers seeking a single resource that combines rigorous pedagogy with genuine repertoire value.
How to get the most out of it
- Begin with Tennant's preliminary exercises before attempting the full score. These build the specific right-hand endurance and coordination the tremolo demands, setting you up for genuine control rather than just speed.
- Use the right-hand-only version to stabilize the tremolo pattern under your fingers. Once the motion feels automatic, the complexity of adding left-hand shifts becomes manageable.
- Reference the block-chord version when left-hand transitions feel clumsy or sound disconnected. Isolating the fretboard work lets you shape the piece's harmonic arc before layering back the tremolo texture.
- Listen for the fountain imagery Tárrega embedded in the tremolo itself. The pattern should suggest continuous, gentle water rather than mechanical rippling; let the dynamic shape of each measure follow the music's natural phrasing.
How to use it
"Recuerdos de la Alhambra" deserves a solo spot on any concert that includes classical guitar, whether as a standalone feature or paired with other 19th century Spanish works. In the studio, assign it as a capstone project for intermediate students nearing advanced study. The piece's progression from technique to artistry makes it an ideal choice for demonstrating what becomes possible when a guitarist commits to patient, methodical practice.
Skills your students will build
- Tremolo technique (right-hand pattern control and independence)
- Left-hand position shifts and smooth voice leading
- Maintaining even tone color across changing dynamics
- Sustaining focus through a long, technically demanding passage
- Connecting technical mastery to musical interpretation