Guitar Concerto, W 501
by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Villa-Lobos's Guitar Concerto (1951), written for Andrés Segovia, is one of the central concertos of the guitar repertoire and the primary large-scale concerto written by a major composer specifically for the instrument. The three-movement work balances the guitar's intimate voice against the orchestra with remarkable skill — Villa-Lobos deliberately scored the orchestral textures lightly to allow the soloist to project. The lyrical central movement draws on Brazilian melodic idioms, and the finale's rhythmic drive reflects samba-influenced patterns. Segovia himself gave the premiere in Houston in 1956.
Movements
Editions
Edições Musicais Savart / Eschig
Standard edition, 1956
The original publisher's edition prepared with Segovia's input; the authoritative text.
Schott Music
Performance edition, 1982
Widely distributed performing edition; the standard in North American conservatoires.