Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) was an Italian guitarist-composer and author of the popular Méthode complète pour guitare ou lyre, opus 27 (1810). A prolific writer, Carulli composed over four hundred guitar works, including solos, duets, chamber pieces and concertos. Today we explore a solo from his Opus 241.
Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) | Carulli's portrait from this Guitar Method Opus 241, and the source of today's solo. | Wikipedia Commons
Study Tips
Carulli's Andantino Opus 241 No. 5 utilizes a similar style and technique as the prior piece, Andantino in C Major by Carcassi. It begins with the same pinch-pluck right-hand technique. These similarities are not surprising since both pieces were written by Italian guitarist-composers during the first half of the nineteenth century. With that said, Carulli's Andantino is more demanding technically and musically, and arguably more pleasing to the ear.
The last line is mostly arpeggiated chords that change every two beats. It will take extra practice to master. Here are the groupings of the implied chords:
Implied Chords | Every two beats, fret the shape of the implied chord.
Some of the implied chords are partial fingerings of chords you know such as C, G and D7.
19th Century Guitar (c. 1838) | Christian Frederic Martin (1796–1873) | This guitar is the same age as Andantino Opus 241. | Metropolitan Museum of Art
•••
Study Tips
