Tarrega, Francisco (1852-1909 Spain)
Born in Villarreal, Tarrega was familiar with the sound of the guitar since he was very young, as his father used to play flamenco and other styles in his guitar. Some years later his family moved to Castellon, where he started his first music classes. In 1865 Tarrega ran away from home, to Valencia, where he joined a gang of gypsies. His father looked for him and brought him back but he ran away again. At his early twenties, Tarrega was already a very good performer, both in piano and guitar. Emilio Pujol and Miguel Llobet were two of his students. He travelled to many places in Europe, giving recitals, including Italy, France and England. He was a great composer and his guitar methods are an indispensable (according to many guitar teachers) in guitar education, even in the 21th century.
