Francisco Tárrega - Polka, Waltz, Lullaby & Tango (1890/1900)

Francisco de Asís Tárrega y Eixea (21 November 1852 – 15 December 1909) was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist of the late Romantic period. He is known for such pieces as Capricho Árabe, Recuerdos de la Alhambra and Gran Vals.

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1. El pobre valbuena (0:00)
2. Las dos hermanas (2:32)
3. El columpio (5:48)
4. Tango (8:08)

Giulio Tampalini, guitar

Details:
1. Tárrega arranged “El Pobre Valbuena” for the Catalan singer Joan Valbuena. The piece was originally composed as a polka by Joaquín Valverde and Tomás Torregrosa for Valbuena’s zarzuela, and Tárrega’s guitar version appeared in his published repertoire around 1900.
The piece reflects Tárrega’s habit of adapting popular songs into solo guitar works, making them accessible to the public.
Joan Valbuena’s association with the song helped cement its place in Catalan musical tradition.

2. Tárrega wrote Las dos hermanas as a tribute to his wife, María Rosa Tárrega. He composed it in 1900 in memory of her after her death, expressing his love through the gentle waltz style. The title literally means “The Two Sisters,” a poetic reference to her and another sister or perhaps a symbolic pairing.

3. Tárrega wrote “El Columpio”(The Rocking Chair) for his own daughter, María de Tárrega. He composed it around 1890 as a gentle, lullaby‑like piece to express his love for her, and it remains one of his most tender and popular guitar works.