There are few things as relaxing or as beautiful as a well-played piece of classical music on guitar. The classical guitar is a very versatile instrument and can be used to play a wide variety of music.
From gentle, soothing melodies to upbeat and lively tunes, there is a classical guitar piece to suit everyone’s taste. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most beautiful pieces of classical music for guitar.
Concierto de Aranjuez – Rodrigo
The Concierto de Aranjuez is a piece of music by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. It was written in 1939, and is one of the most famous works of classical guitar music. The piece is in three movements, and the first movement is the most well-known. It is a beautiful, slow melody that is perfect for a relaxing evening.
Cavatina – Stanley Myers
Cavatina is a piece of music by the English composer Stanley Myers. It was originally written in 1971 but has been transcribed for classical guitar. Cavatina was written in memory of a close friend of Myers’ who was killed in an encounter with a tiger while he was in the Army. The piece is very melancholy and is a beautiful way to express feelings of mourning.
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
The Canon in D is a piece of music by German composer Johann Pachelbel. It is perhaps one of the most well-known pieces of classical guitar music, and has been transcribed by many other musicians. The Canon in D was written in 1680 and, like most baroque music, is quite a simple piece. It is best played on the nylon-stringed classical guitar, as the guitar’s mellow tone works perfectly with Pachelbel’s music.
Prelude No. 1 – Heitor Villa-Lobos
Prelude No. 1 is a piece of music by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. He was a prolific composer, and wrote many classical guitar pieces, including the set of Preludes, which include Preludes No. 1 and No. 2. Prelude No. 1 is a simple, calming melody, with a very gentle sound. What is special about this piece is that it is composed entirely of open chords. This makes it easy to play, but at the same time, it takes a lot of practice to play.
Guitar concerto in D – Vivaldi
Vivaldi wrote a large number of pieces for the classical guitar, but his most well-known is, without doubt, his Guitar Concerto No. 6 in D. The concerto was written in 1717 and combines romantic aspects with the classical era, which is typical of Vivaldi’s music. The concerto is in three movements and is a very energetic piece, which is perfect for those looking for an upbeat and lively piece of classical guitar music.
Five Bagatelles – Walton
Five Bagatelles is a wonderful piece of music by British composer William Walton. It is a very simple yet effective piece of music; even beginners can play that. It is written in a slow tempo and is perfect for quiet evenings.
Libertango – Piazzolla
Libertango is a piece of music by Argentine composer Astor Piazzola. It is one of the most famous tangos ever written, and has been transcribed for classical guitar. The piece was composed in 1954 and is one of the most famous classical guitar pieces of all time—proponents of the classical guitar claim that more guitarists have played Libertango than any other piece of music.
The Bottomline
There are many more pieces of classical guitar music out there than the ones listed above, and those listed above are by no means the best. If you are just starting to learn how to play the classical guitar, it is best to start with some simple pieces, such as Five Bagatelles or the Prelude No. 1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos. As you advance, you can move on to more difficult pieces, such as Libertango or the Guitar Concerto in D.
Listen to beautiful background guitar music here at Prayer Pray. Listen to our instrumentals and more relaxing music.
