Award Date

May 2017

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

Music

First Committee Member

Andrew Smith

Second Committee Member

Ricardo Cobo

Third Committee Member

Susan Mueller

Fourth Committee Member

Anthony Labounty

Fifth Committee Member

Beth Mehocic

Number of Pages

52

Abstract

During the early nineteenth-century, the writing for classical-guitar elevated the instrument to

the solo concert stage. The appearance of the six-string guitar changed guitar writing.1 With this new

instrument, guitarists had an array of new possibilities to explore in terms of sound and technique.

Fernando Sor (1778-1839) and Dionisio Aguado (1784-1849) were the main artists promoting and

advocating the six-string guitar as a serious concert instrument in Spain.2

This document will focus on two guitar masterworks: Fernando Sor's Grand Solo Op.14 and

Dionisio Aguado's Rondo Op2. N3. It will explain why Grand Solo Op.14 and Rondo Op2. N3 can

synthesize the style and guitar writing of the Classical Movement in Spain. Grand Solo Op.14 was

written in sonata form and Rondo Op2. N3 in rondo form; both forms were typical musical structures

used in the Classical period. This study presents two musical examples which can depict and represent

the guitar sonority which defined the Classical era.

The outline of this qualitative research will be divided in four parts: the relevance and weight of

these pieces in the guitar repertoire; the biographies of Sor and Aguado; a brief definition of Classicism

to ensure the Grand Solo Op.14 and Rondo Op2. N3 contain musical features in the Classical style; and

finally a conclusion addressing these masterworks as two essential references for the study of the

Spanish Classicism.

The primary objective for investigating the value of these two ambitious works, is to benefit

historians and musicologists who do not have prior knowledge of guitar history and literature. This research concerning two guitar masterworks in nineteenth century Spain, will be an indispensable

resource for historians, musicologists, and other musicians to better understand the historical process of

the guitar, its technique, repertoire, and exponents.

Keywords

Dionisio; guitar; history; method; sonata; Spanish

Disciplines

History | Music | Theatre and Performance Studies

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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