Agustín Barrios in Tablature

Agustín Barrios’s music presents unusual editorial challenges. Many of his works survive in multiple versions, including manuscripts in Barrios’s own hand, later printed editions, transcriptions by other musicians, and recorded performances containing passages that do not appear in any known published score. Barrios himself continued to revise and reshape his music throughout his performing career, making it difficult to regard any single source as definitive.

This collection approaches that problem by comparing historical source material with the performance practices of leading guitarists, including John Williams, Antigoni Goni, Ana Vidović, Xuefei Yang, and Denis Azabagic. Alternate readings and fingering solutions are examined with the goal of producing editions that are both historically informed and practical for the modern guitarist.

One particularly revealing example occurs in the extended scale passage from Un Sueño en la Floresta. Published sources differ substantially, and prominent performers have adopted different solutions. Xuefei Yang’s version closely follows one surviving source, while John Williams uses nearly the same notes with a slight alteration. Barrios’s own recorded performance, however, differs significantly from the published versions. This edition includes a carefully transcribed version of Barrios’s recorded passage alongside the relevant source alternatives, allowing the guitarist to see and compare how the passage evolved in print and performance.

Contents include:

• ​Un Sueño en la Floresta
• ​Prelude in C minor
• ​La Catedral
• ​Madrigal - Gavota
• ​Las Abejas
• ​Prelude in G minor
• ​Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios

Whether used for study, performance, or enjoyment, this collection celebrates Agustín Barrios’s distinctive voice and enduring contribution to the classical guitar repertoire.