Fernando Sor

Fernando Sor (baptised 14 February 1778 – 10 July 1839) was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer of the late Classical era and early Romantic era. Best known for writing solo classical guitar music, he also composed an opera (at the age of 19), three symphonies, guitar duos, piano music, songs, a Mass, and at least two successful ballets: Cinderella, which received over one hundred performances, and Hercule et Omphale.

Partly because Sor was himself such a classical guitar virtuoso—contemporaries considered him to be the best in the world—he made a point of writing didactic music for players of that instrument of all levels. His Twelve Studies Op. 6, the Twelve Studies Op. 29, the (24) Progressive Lessons Op. 31, and the (24) Very Easy Exercises Op. 35 have been widely played for two hundred years and are regularly reprinted. On the other hand, Sor's concert pieces, like the popular Introduction and Variations on Mozart's "Das klinget so herrlich" Op. 9, belong to the advanced guitar performance repertoire.

Unlike modern classical guitar players, Sor used the smaller, slimmer "Romantic" guitars predating today's familiar guitar standards set by Torres. He used the ring finger of his plucking hand "rarely" and "only for harmony (never for melody)." He eschewed the use of nails on that hand.

Birth and Death Data: Born Barcelona (city in Catalonia, Spain), Died July 10, 1839 (Paris (capital city and largest city of France) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1912 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor H-474 10-in. 2/1/1912 Adagio Julio J. Otermín Guitar solo composer  
Victor H-475 10-in. 2/1/1912 Allegro Julio J. Otermín Guitar solo composer  
Victor H-476 10-in. 2/2/1912 Minuet en do mayor Julio J. Otermín Guitar solo composer  
Victor BAVE-059713 10-in. 1/20/1942 Minuet en la menor Nelly Ezcaray Guitar solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sor, Fernando," accessed December 29, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102553.

Sor, Fernando. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102553.

"Sor, Fernando." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 29 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102553

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