Agustín Barrios – "La Catedral"

Recital info: Brendle Recital Hall at Wake Forest University (04/08/2024). Agustín Barrios (1885–1944) was a Paraguayan guitar virtuoso, composer, and educator who composed in a rather romantic style during a time when classical composition was becoming less conventional and more experimental. "La Catedral," one of Barrios' most revered and famous pieces, is a three-movement, programmatic piece that is meant to express his fascination with a large cathedral in Uruguay. While the 2nd movement (II. "Andante religioso") is focused on the grandeur of the church interior, the 3rd movement (III. "Allegro solemne") is a musical depiction of the bustling courtyard surrounding the church. The first movement (I. "Preludio saudade") was composed after the latter-two movements as a rather somber callback to the fond memories that Barrios had of the cathedral.