''Capricho árabe'' (Arabic Caprice) is an 1892 Composition by Spanish composer Francisco Tarrega. The Piece was composed after a trip through

Andalucia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It i ...

and

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, he dedicated it to his friend, conductor

Tomás Bretón Tomás Bretón y Hernández (29 December 1850 – 2 December 1923) was a Spanish Conducting, conductor and composer. Biography Tomás Bretón was born in Salamanca. He completed his musical studies at the School of Fine Arts in his hometown, w ...

. The piece is around 5 minutes long and is in AABA form with an introduction. The A sections are in

D minor D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has one flat. Its relative major is F major and its parallel major is D major. The D natural minor scale is: Changes needed ...

, while the B section modulates to the

relative Relative may refer to: General use *Kinship and family, the principle binding the most basic social units of society. If two people are connected by circumstances of birth, they are said to be ''relatives''. Philosophy *Relativism, the concept t ...

F major F major is a major scale based on F, with the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat.Music Theory'. (1950). United States: Standards and Curriculum Division, Training, Bureau of Naval Personnel. 28. Its relati ...

and then to

D major D major is a major scale based on D (musical note), D, consisting of the pitches D, E (musical note), E, F♯ (musical note), F, G (musical note), G, A (musical note), A, B (musical note), B, and C♯ (musical note), C. Its key signature has two S ...

, which is the

parallel major In music theory Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory": The first is the ...

of the home key. Performers must use

drop D tuning Drop D tuning is an alternative form of guitar tuning in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned down from the usual E of standard tuning by one whole step to D. Therefore, where the standard tuning is E2A2D3G3B3E4 (EADGBe), drop D is D2A2D3G3 ...

to access the low tonic. The A section melody begins with a sentence over a vamp between tonic and dominant chords: ;A section, melody and bass line (D minor) : \relative c' \new Staff The B section begins with a transposed variation of the A theme but interpolates a new

sequence In mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed and order matters. Like a set, it contains members (also called ''elements'', or ''terms''). The number of elements (possibly infinite) is cal ...

played over a

Circle of fifths In music theory, the circle of fifths (sometimes also cycle of fifths) is a way of organizing pitches as a sequence of perfect fifths. Starting on a C, and using the standard system of tuning for Western music (12-tone equal temperament), the se ...

progression: ;B section, melody and bass line (F major) : \relative c' \new Staff Three bands surrounding Tárrega's coffin played the song during his funeral in his honour. ''Capricho Árabe'' exemplifies Tárrega's unique style, blending romanticism with his deep connection to Spanish musical traditions. The piece is noted for its evocative melodies and rich harmonies that capture the quintessential Spanish sound.The piece is widely recognized for its beauty, and utilizes slur techniques like

portamento In music, portamento (: ''portamenti''; from old , meaning 'carriage' or 'carrying'), also known by its French name glissade, is a pitch sliding from one Musical note, note to another. The term originated from the Italian language, Italian exp ...

on the classical guitar. The piece was later used in

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season 4, episode 16: "Honor among thieves?".

Arrangements and Transcriptions

''Capricho Árabe'' has been transcribed and arranged for various instruments beyond its original version for classical guitar. These arrangements reflect the work's emotional depth and melodic richness, making it adaptable to diverse musical contexts. *

Viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

solo: Italian violist

Marco Misciagna Marco Misciagna (; born 5 February 1984) is an Italian violinist and violist internationally renowned for his performances and contributions to classical music. Biography Musical education Marco Misciagna was born in Bari, Italy. He graduated ...

created an arrangement for solo viola, published by Partitura-Verlag in his collection ''Viola Virtuosa – Spanish Music for Solo Viola'', which also includes works by Albéniz and Sor. * Flute and guitar: A transcription for flute and guitar, providing a soft and lyrical take suitable for chamber performance. *

Harp guitar The harp guitar is a guitar-based stringed instrument generally defined as a "guitar, in any of its accepted forms, with any number of additional unstopped strings that can accommodate individual plucking." The word "harp" is used in reference to ...

: Canadian guitarist Jamie Dupuis arranged and performed the piece on harp guitar, showcasing its expressive range in a modern fingerstyle adaptation. *

Bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

: Several bass guitar adaptations have been made, including performances shared by musicians like Charles Berthoud and others online, demonstrating the work's adaptability to modern string instruments. These transcriptions underscore the timeless and cross-instrumental appeal of ''Capricho Árabe'', reinforcing its place among the most beloved pieces in the classical guitar repertoire.

References

Compositions for guitar Compositions by Francisco Tárrega Tarrega {{classical-composition-stub

Arrangements and Transcriptions

See also

References