The Barcelona Guitar Orchestra ( es, Orquesta de Guitarras de Barcelona) is a 25 chair orchestra of

classical guitar The classical guitar (also known as the nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string instrument with strings made of gut or nylon, it is a precursor of ...

ists based in

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

. The

repertoire A repertoire () is a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or roles which a company or person is prepared to perform. Musicians often have a musical repertoire. The first known use of the word ''repertoire'' was in 1847. It is a lo ...

of the orchestra ranges from

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including th ...

to contemporary compositions with a heavy emphasis on

Spanish music In Spain, music has a long history. It has played an important role in the development of Western music, and has greatly influenced Latin American music. Spanish music is often associated with traditional styles such as flamenco and classical ...

. In the more than thirty years since its founding, the orchestra has toured extensively throughout the world. It is considered an examplar of groups of its type.

Origin

Music director A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the ...

Sergi Vicente was a guitar instructor at the

Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu () is a music college in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1837 with the name ''Liceo Filo-dramático de Montesión''. In 1847 the institution inaugurated the opera house Gran Teatre del Lice ...

in Barcelona. In 1989, he convened a group of eight guitarists at the conservatory to enhance their musical skills. This ensemble over time grew into the Barcelona Guitar Orchestra, with typically 25 members. Depending on the program, the orchestra includes piano accompanists and percussionists.

Worldwide performances

The orchestra travels extensively, including tours to Europe, Russia, South America, and the United States (2009, 2011). It has performed at international guitar festivals in Barcelona (2001, 2002) and at the International Guitar Festival of

Havana, Cuba Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

(2000). In addition to maintaining close ties to its home at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, the orchestra has performed as part of the opera cycle of the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. Guest conductors have included composer and guitarist Leo Brouwer, who has composed pieces specifically for guitar ensemble. Other composers whose works are performed by the orchestra include Gaspar Sanz, Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz.

Guitar orchestra movement

Barcelona Guitar Orchestra is part of a growing number of guitar orchestras in the world. Representative examples include the Boston Guitar Orchestra, the Cambridge Guitar Orchestra, and the European Guitar and Mandolin Youth Orchestra. An article in ''Classical Guitar Review'' states that the Barcelona Guitar Orchestra is "the most successful ensemble of its kind".

Discography

* ''Orquestra de Guitarres de Barcelona'', 2001. * ''Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona - Concert Al Palau'', 2004.

References

External links

*Website o
conductor Sergi Vicente
*A video recording of a representative performance by th
Barcelona Guitar Orchestra
*Website of th
Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
{{authority control Spanish music Spanish classical guitar Spanish orchestras 1989 establishments in Spain