Agustin Barrios Mangore "El Libro De Oro", Vol. 3: Arrangements of Other Composers

Introduction to “El Libro De Oro” (“The Book of Gold”):

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the death of Paraguayan born composer Agustín Barrios, the dream that he nurtured in his last years of putting together all of his many works has finally materialized. Les Productions d’Oz, along with a select team of researchers, guitarists and engravers, have produced in 6 volumes “El Libro de Oro” (The Book of Gold).

During his concert career which spanned the years 1909-1943, half of the material in Barrios’ programs was written by other composers. Volume 3 of the series features all of the known Barrios arrangements of other composer’s works. All of the volumes are adorned with original photographs, concert programs and other items of interest to the discriminating guitarist including many tributes written to him during his lifetime, seen here in English for the first time.

The life of Barrios reads like an adventure novel, but rest assured all the the material presented in these texts has been verified with original historical documents. From a concert stage deep in the heart of the Amazon to his concert broadcast worldwide on German National Radio just days before the freedoms of expression were extinguished by the Nazi regime, Barrios was determined to spread his art. He came to be recognized during his lifetime as the first indigenous person of the Americas to have bettered the culture of the European Conquistadors. Much of his work thought lost has been rescued and appears in print for the first time. With the help of Les Productions d’Oz, his time has finally come.

– Frederick Sheppard