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Fernando SorSpanish classical guitarist and composer
Date of Birth: 14.02.1778
Country:  Spain |
Content:
Biography of Fernando Sor
Fernando Sor was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer. He was often referred to as the "Beethoven of the guitar" by the Franco-Belgian composer, pedagogue, and musicologist François-Joseph Fétis. While he gained widespread popularity for his compositions for the guitar, Sor also wrote a diverse range of music, including opera, orchestral works, string quartets, piano pieces, and vocal music. His ballet, "Cinderella," had over a hundred performances. Sor's guitar compositions ranged from small pieces for beginner musicians to complex compositions for experienced guitarists, such as the "Variations on a Theme by Mozart." He was considered the world's best guitarist by his contemporaries, and even after his death, his works continued to be widely performed and republished.
Early Life and Education
Fernando Sor was born in Barcelona, Spain, on February 14, 1778. He was born into a relatively affluent family of military personnel and was baptized with the name Josep Ferran Sors i Muntades. Sor initially planned to follow his family's tradition and pursue a military career. However, his plans changed when his father introduced him to Italian opera and the guitar. Despite the guitar's low status at the time, slightly above peasant instruments used for entertaining common people, Sor became infatuated with music and abandoned the idea of a military career.
In his childhood, Sor's parents did not strongly encourage his musical abilities, as his father feared that music would distract him from his studies, especially Latin. To please his parents, Sor began writing the lyrics to his songs in Latin. When Sor reached adolescence, he caught the attention of a priest at the Barcelona Cathedral, who enrolled him in the school associated with the cathedral. Unfortunately, shortly after this, his father passed away, leaving his mother with limited means. They could no longer afford to pay for Sor's education. However, the new abbot of the Montserrat Monastery recognized Sor's talent and provided funding for his education at the monastery's choir school. Sor had fond memories of this school and expressed immense gratitude for it.
However, Sor's mother, fearing that he would dedicate his life to music instead of military service, transferred him to a military school for four years. This was not a tragedy for Sor, as he still had enough free time to pursue his passion.
Career and Travels
In 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, Sor not only composed patriotic music for the guitar but also fought against the French. However, after suffering defeat, he accepted an administrative position in the occupying government. In 1813, fearing reprisal from radical patriots, Sor, like many others, left Spain and settled in Paris. In France, Sor gained recognition primarily as a virtuoso guitarist and composer of orchestral music. However, his operas did not appeal to the French audience, prompting him to seek success elsewhere.
In 1815, Sor traveled to London, where he also established himself as a renowned guitarist and teacher. Ballet was more popular in London than opera, so Sor tried his hand at composing ballet music and quickly achieved success. It was during this time that he composed the ballet "Cinderella."
In 1823, Sor embarked on another journey, this time to distant and cold Moscow. He traveled with his wife, ballerina Fèlicité Virginie Hullin Sor, who had a promising career awaiting her there. Not much is known about Sor's time in Russia, but he spent three years there before returning to Europe. After parting ways with his wife, Sor traveled from city to city, giving concerts and meeting local musicians and composers wherever he went.
By 1827, Fernando decided to settle in Paris and spend the rest of his life there, likely due to his age. In Paris, he composed the majority of his guitar works. His final composition was a requiem mass for his daughter, who passed away in 1837. Her death plunged the already ailing Sor into a deep depression, and two years later, on July 10, 1839, he died from throat cancer.
