Composer

:

Santiago de Murcia

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Passacaglia

Compose Date

:

1732

Passacalles y Obras is a collection of baroque guitar music composed by Santiago de Murcia, a Spanish guitarist and composer. The collection was composed in the early 18th century and was first published in Madrid in 1732. It is considered one of the most important collections of baroque guitar music and is still widely performed and studied today. The collection consists of 12 pieces, including passacalles, folias, and other dance forms. The passacalles are a type of variation form, in which a repeating bass line (the passacaglia) is used as the basis for a series of variations. Murcia's passacalles are particularly notable for their intricate ornamentation and virtuosic flourishes. The other pieces in the collection include folias, zarabandas, and other dance forms popular in Spain at the time. These pieces are characterized by their lively rhythms and catchy melodies, and often feature complex harmonies and counterpoint. One of the most notable features of Murcia's music is his use of the guitar's unique capabilities. He often employs unusual tunings and techniques, such as rasgueado (a strumming technique) and campanelas (a technique in which the player uses the thumb to play harmonics while simultaneously playing a melody with the other fingers). Overall, Passacalles y Obras is a testament to Murcia's skill as a composer and guitarist, and remains an important part of the baroque guitar repertoire. Its intricate ornamentation, virtuosic flourishes, and unique use of the guitar make it a challenging and rewarding collection for performers and listeners alike.

More....