SOR: Grandes Sonates pour Guitare

A recording that vividly captures the freedom and spirit of experimentation of the young composer, foreshadowing the profound spirituality of Sor’s later years.

(...) concentrating on the emotional power of melody and on a musical design which sees the guitar as an orchestra, Sol did not hesitate to alter and invert musical forms, leading him in later years to develop a “Classical idiom with Romantic epicism” style which moved away from mainstream of musical history. In the sonatas recorded here we see the budding of the composer’s free spirit and affection for those around him. 
    This recording breathes new life into Sor’s earnestness and singleheartedness, features which anticipate the profound spirituality of Sor’s music evidenced in Hara’s highly acclaimed Sor recordings: “Études complètes pour Guitare” (Complete Studies for Guitar) and “Fantaisies pour Guitare” (Fantasies for Guitar).  [Daisuke Suzuki, Guitarist]

Fernando Sor (1778-1839):

•  Grande Sonate Op. 22 (Pub. 1825)
  • [1]  I. Allegro
  • [2]  II. Adagio
  • [3]  III. Minuetto: Allegro
  • [4]  IV. Rondo: Allegretto
• Deuxieme Grande Sonate Op. 25 (Pub. 1827)
  
  • [5]  I. Andante largo
  • [6]  II. Allegro non troppo
  • [7]  III. Thème et Variations: Andantino grazioso
  • [8]  IV. Minuetto: Allegro

Yoshinobu Hara, romantic guitar

Instrument: René Lacote (Paris 1828)
Strings: ①②③BERND KÜRSCHNER, Catgut/④⑤⑥FIGARO, Silkcore
Played without nails/Flesh playing

Based on the first edition [A. Meissonnier]

Recording Location: Gotanda Cultural Center Hall, 21-23 April 2025
Recording Engineer & Editing: Jun Kawanami
Notes: Daisuke Suzuki, Jun Takeuchi
Translation: Jonathan Baum
Cover Painting: Caspar David Friedrich, Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer, c.1818
Cover Design: Hitoshi Nagasawa [papier collé]
Booklet Editing: Kensuke Fujii