Feb 01 2009
Recuerdos De La Alhambra Alternative Versions
Alternative Versions of Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Following on from last weeks post on the famous tremolo study, over the years I have noted some vastly different renditions of the piece, some by artists in different genres to classical guitar, or even non guitarists…
Singer Sarah Brightman in her album “Classics” includes the piece with words added!
Mike Oldfield played Recuerdos on different instruments, in his soundtrack to the film “The Killing Fields”. It was played right at the end, over the closing end credits. The right hand thumb strokes on the guitar were played on a percussion instrument, and the melody in short, staccato bursts on a wind instrument! It was effective, I thought, but it depends on your tolerance to alternative ways of performing this guitar masterpiece…Many might well dismiss it as distorting the original too much 
Free Guitar Score
Getting back to guitar, I offer this free guitar score of Recuerdos, arranged and fingered by Stanley Yates. The main difference in this version is the opening section the melody is written to be played on the top string, as opposed to predominately second string. I’ve seen it played this way in concert by Richard Durrant also.
It is not clear whether Tarrega originally intended second string tremolo at this point, or second string.. On one hand, second string melody sounds more mellow, but there are nice glissando effects that can be incorporated into your performance if played on top string. And it is far easier to play that way!
The fact that Recuerdos has a widespread appeal to music lovers in general, not just guitarists, is eloquence in itself. Whatever your opinions of the many recordings of this work by non guitarists, there’s no denying the evocative appeal of the original concept, from which stemmed the inspiration to covet.
I may add more different links to alternative Recuerdos as I come across them.
Image by Lucky Girl Kris of Flickr.
Nana Mouskouri also recorded it.