Spanish Guitar player and composer (Vila-real 1852 - Barcelona 1909)
Francisco Tarrega-Eixea was
born in Vila-real. His home still preserved is located beside the Saint
Pascual Baylon's Church. He was so exceptional for his time that even
some guitar artists today don't know him as a classic.
He did his musical studies in
Castellon, Valencia and Madrid, creating many original compositions that
even today are easily understandable. Recognised as the leader of the modern
Spanish guitar movement, he played in many European cities, expanding the
guitar as an expressive and modern instrument.
Even top pop artists have versioned
Tarrega's compositions, as Mike Oldfield's version of "Recuerdos de la
Alhambra" (Alhambra's memories).
He also did several adaptations
for guitar based on compositions from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Chopin,
Schumman, and others. He had several pupils that learned his techniques
and ensured the continuity and evolution of the guitar for today's people
joy. He died in Barcelona at the age of 57, being its remains moved to
Castellón's cemetery, where his tomb can be visited. In the Vila-real's
City Museum, part of his legacy is shown.
The International Guitar Contest Francisco Tarrega
The first week of September,
the International Guitar Contest with his name -Festival Internacional
de Guitarra Francisco Tarrega- is celebrated as every summer in Benicassim,
touristic village on the coast, 20 Km. to the North of Vila-real. Players
from all over the world come to show their ability with the instrument.
Some of the mandatory pieces must be Tarrega's compositions. The prizes
are economically substantious (e.g.10,000.-USD in 1999), plus a contract for a CD recording and several concerts.
This Contest is supported by UNESCO as member of its International Music
Festival Worldwide Association, and sponsored by the Vila-real, Benicassim
and Castellon City Councils.
Results
for some past years:1997. XXXI edition Kevin Gallagher, from the
US, was 1997 winner, by the unanimous decission of the jury. From a total
of 53 players, only 4 arrived to the final session the 5th of September.
Kevin showed a great control of the guitar and played a perfect "Concert
#1 by Castelnuovo-Tedesco". Second prize was for Miguel Garcia, from Castellon
(Spain). Third prize was Ricardo Gallen, from Linares (Spain). The Ucranian
player Alexander Rengatch had an unfortunate night and was classified in
fourth place.
1998: XXXII edition The contest was hold from
28th August to 4th September 1998. The croatian Ana Vidovic, 18 years old,
played a perfect "Concierto de Villalobos" and became by merits the youngest
winner of the Contest's history, and the third women having obtained the
First Prize. Ricardo Gallén from Jaén (Spain) got the Second
Prize, plus the one from the Audience and the Best Play of a Francisco
Tárrega's work. The other two finalists were Francisco Sánchez
from Sevilla (Spain) and the bulgarian Georges Vassilev. The great amount
of public made the Benicassim City Teather become small, forcing to install
a big TV screen on the nearest square so people could follow the Contest
from outdoors.
1999: XXXIV edition The Spaniard Ricardo J.
Gallén-García was winner in the final session hold the 3rd
September in the City Theater.
Since 1985 when Ignacio
Rodes (by the way, member of the Jury in 1999) won in Benicassim, no
Spaniards had won, although this was quite frequent along the two first
decades of the Contest. But in fact, it is in the last fifteen years when
the Contest really becomes international, with an increase in the artistical
level. The winner had his prize by majority , obtaining as well the one
from the Audience. Second place was for Laurine Phelut (France), who got
also the prize to the Best Play of a Francisco Tárrega's work by
unanimity. The other two finalists were Graham Devine (UK) and José
A. Escobar (Chile). The European Synphonic Orchestra, conducted by Christian
Florea, was in charge of the arrangements, discovering itself as one of
the best groups having ever participated, along the ten years the Contest
has orchestral participation in the final session.
2000: XXXV edition José Antonio Escobar,
from Chile, was the winner this time, along a final that got a high expectation
in the Benicassim Theatre. Second prize was for the cuban Marco Díaz
Tamayo, whereas the best interpretation of a Tarrega's play was for Romilio
Orellana, also from Chile. Escobar obtained as well the audience's award. The
spaniard Francisco Sánchez Bernier, from Sevilla, only spaniard
in the final phase, qualified fourth. One more year, the European Simphonic
Orchestra conducted by Christian Florea was in charge of the arrangements.
The organization was forced to install a big TV screen in the square outside
the auditorium to allow the high number of people with no chance to get
a ticket to watch the final.
The
Francisco Tarrega's Plectrum Orchestras Festival
Not so important, but not for
this less interesting, is the festival organized every year since 1990
by the Vila-real's "Orquesta de Pulso y Púa Francisco Tarrega".
This music association is formed by amateur players that show
a very high level with their mandolines and guitars. This year was the
VIII edition. From the 20th to the 28th of September, orchestras from Madrid,
Valencia, Germany, and the organizing team played several concerts in the
City Auditorium.
Versioned
by top pop artists
Francisco Tarrega has even been
versioned by today's top pop artists. Maybe the best example of the influence
Tarrega has had in today's guitar music is the version of "Recuerdos de
la Alhambra" (Alhambra's memories) that Mike Oldfield renamed as "Etude" and helped him to win
an Oscar in 1984 by the movie soundtrack of "The Killing Fields".
About Vila-real 
Francisco Tarrega-Eixea was
born in Vila-real. His home still preserved is located beside the 
The
Francisco Tarrega's Plectrum Orchestras Festival
