Agustín Barrios Mangoré - Mazurka Appassionata

Agustín Barrios Mangoré (May 5, 1885 - August 7, 1944) was a Paraguayan virtuoso classical guitarist and composer, largely regarded as one of the greatest performers and most prolific composers for the guitar. Over 300 of Barrios' compositions and arrangements survive. He is still revered in Latin America to this day, where he is seen as one of the greatest musicians of all time by many. John Williams, former student of Andres Segovia, said of Barrios: "As a guitarist/composer, Barrios is the best of the lot, regardless of era. His music is better formed, it's more poetic, it's more everything! And it's more of all those things in a timeless way."

Mazurka Appassionata by Agustín Barrios Mangoré was originally composed for solo guitar. In 2021 I arranged it for 2 guitars. The melody alternates in both parts to create a kind of "passionate" conversation between the guitars. In one guitar, the melody can be played on the 2nd or even the 3rd string, resulting in better cantilena, more beautiful vibrato and more aliquot notes. On the other hand, the accompaniment allows fuller harmony, thickened chords, or possible doubling of the melody in octaves.

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