MICHAEL WINKLER PLAYS FRANCISCO TÁRREGA ​

When I heard Francisco Tárrega's music for the first time as a teenager, I was immediately spellbound. I was in love with his melodies, his harmonies and the elegance of his waltzes. This music was a perfect match for the guitar and my attitude to life at that time. I played the pieces at every opportunity. They were, so to speak, "my" pieces. A few years later, I lost interest in this music and discovered the polyphony, the music of Dowland and Bach. For over 35 years Tárregas works remained untouched until I rediscovered them.

In 2019, I felt the need to take up his compositions again, to rediscover the music and to venture a new interpretation with more mature point of view. It has not become a historically inspired recording. The guitar, built in 2018 by the German guitar builder Thomas Eichert, has a modern and clear sound and is far away from the dark sound of a Torres guitar like the one Tárrega used. I have interpreted many pieces more slenderly and rhythmically tighter than at that time, but I have also taken more time where necessary. In addition, I wanted to make this recording with na- tural acoustics. The beautiful surround sound of the chapel supported my joy of playing and stimulated my creativity.

Here, I have recorded my favourite and at the same time the most important of his original compositions. Partly they are also only very short pieces which I still find just as charming as back then. I hope you feel the same way. Sincerely, Michael Winkler