This guide is part of our overview of the essential classical guitar repertoire. Federico Moreno Torroba (1891–1982) was one of the most important Spanish composers to write for the classical guitar — a natural melodist whose gift for evoking the landscapes and spirit of Castile produced works that have remained at the centre of the concert repertoire since the 1920s.
A Partnership with Segovia
Born in Madrid, Torroba trained as a composer and conductor and showed an early gift for the kind of lyrical, nationalistic writing that would define Spanish art music in the early twentieth century. His partnership with Andrés Segovia began in 1918 and quickly became one of the most productive in the history of the guitar. Segovia brought technical knowledge and concert advocacy; Torroba brought compositional craft and an instinct for melody that suited the instrument perfectly. Their collaboration produced works that helped establish the classical guitar as a serious concert medium.
The Sonatina in A major, premiered at Segovia's legendary Paris debut on 7 April 1924, is considered the first major concert work written by a non-guitarist composer for the instrument. Its three movements — Allegretto, Andante, and Allegro — carry a warmth and craft that have made it a rite of passage for every classical guitarist. His suite Castillos de España (two volumes, 1970 and 1978), each piece evoking a different Spanish castle, represents a late-career masterwork of programmatic guitar writing.
