1904 Enrique García No. 44 SP/CSAR

This 1904 Enrique García is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar made in Barcelona, No. 44 – built right after No. 43, the García played by Francisco Tárrega.

In the video above, Peter Fletcher plays "Córdoba" from Isaac Albéniz's "Cantos de España" on this guitar.

No. 44, One Number After Tárrega's García

Of note, this guitar was made in 1904 and numbered 44 – its label reads "Año 1904", "Calle Aragón 369" and "Nº 44". Francisco Tárrega famously played a García from the same year, but one number earlier (No. 43). It is a wonderfully well-preserved example of García building in his great, mature style.

A Carved Headstock and a Torres-Style Rosette

Stylistically the instrument has an early example of García's famous carved headstock, and at the same time an elegant and simple rosette of concentric rings, similar in style to those found on many instruments by Antonio de Torres. The tone is wholesome and robust, and it has it all – very lively and "friendly", with great charm and personality. A very rare and collectible instrument by one of the great masters of the twentieth century.

Enrique García: From the Ramírez Workshop to Barcelona

Enrique García was born in Madrid in 1868. Although he was the son of a guitar maker, Juan García, in 1883 he began an apprenticeship with either Manuel Ramírez or José Ramírez I (or likely both), and continued to work in Madrid for many years. In 1893 his guitars won first prize at the Chicago World's Fair – García was evidently very proud of this achievement, as he represented it in pictorial form on his labels after receiving the award. In 1895 he left Ramírez and Madrid for Barcelona, where he set up his own workshop as an independent builder.

Founder of the Barcelona School of Guitar Making

García is considered to be the founder of the "Barcelona school", or "Catalan" style of guitar making. His style influenced subsequent generations of Barcelona makers including Francisco Simplicio and Miguel Simplicio, Enrique Sanfeliu, Enrique Coll and Ignacio Fleta. Perhaps the most important hallmark of his style is the increased stiffness in his soundboards – his guitars commonly featured 8 asymmetrical fans instead of the traditional 7 (years later, Ignacio Fleta would increase the number of fans to 9).

An International Reputation

García was arguably the most sought-after and famous maker at the turn of the century (1900). His reputation very early on was truly international, largely thanks to Domingo Prat and Francisco Tárrega, who both played his guitars. By 1912 he was exporting many of his instruments, primarily to South America, where a thriving and very important guitar scene, based mainly in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay, was forming. His guitars have always been prized by performers and collectors for their intimate charm and unique style.

Books on Enrique García

The bilingual (French and English) monograph "Enrique García 1868-1922: Constructor de Barcelona" by Jacques Vincenti and Alberto Martínez – 216 pages, with the plan of García No. 123 – is the most complete record of his life, his labels and workshops, the Chicago prize and the guitars of Prat and Tárrega:

Enrique García 1868-1922: Constructor de Barcelona