Miloš Karadaglić: The Guitar - an album guide

1. Suite española, Op.47 - No.5 Asturias

Milos salutes his Mediterranean heritage in the album of sultry guitar classics. You can almost feel the dusty heat of a Spanish marketplace as you listen to the speedy strumming.

2. Recuerdos De La Alhambra

Composed by Spanish guitarist Francisco Tárrega, ‘Recuerdos de la Alhambra’ (Memories of the Alhambra) combines folk music with Romantic music styles. Milos carries it off with a sense of wistful nostalgia imbued in his playing.

3. Suite española, Op.47 - No. 3 Sevilla

Cheeky and light, this positive dance-like music is sure to put you in a good mood. It’s from Isaac Albéniz’s ‘Suite española’, originally written for piano, and depicting a different region of Spain.

4. Lagrima

Moving away from the bold dance rhythms, ‘Lagrima’ is beautifully calming. The Spanish word means ‘teardrop’.

5. Jeux Interdits (Spanish Romance)

Orchestra and guitar are carefully woven together in a warming arrangement of this Spanish Romance. Listen out for the tune and the bass line, both played by Milos on the guitar.

6. Adelita

Another guitar gem composed by Francisco Tárrega. Fluttering trills and slides between notes add a Mediterranean flavour, characterised by Milos’ soulful playing, of course.

7. Suite española, Op.47 - No.1 Granada

Inspired by the province of Granada, this is another of Albéniz’s Spanish pieces. Milos said: “My part of the world and the eastern Mediterranean were heavily under the influence of the Ottoman empire for 500 years, so there is a clear connection between the eastern and western Mediterranean.”

8. Koyunbaba, Op. 19 - 1. Moderato

A slight shift in mood here, as we move further east towards Turkey. The music was written by Carlo Domeniconi, who visited the country and became inspired by its culture and people

9. Koyunbaba, Op. 19 - 2. Mosso

The word Koyunbaba literally translates as ‘sheep-father’ or ‘shepherd’. Listen out for Milos’ skillful speedy strumming as you imagine the wild sheep in the dry Turkish heat.

10. Koyunbaba, Op. 19 - 3. Cantabile

Peaceful and mournful with an Arabic flavour, the third movement of Domeniconi’s piece is like a guitar lullaby. It was written in 1985.

11. Koyunbaba, Op. 19 - 4. Presto

An undulating melody and a relentless stream of fast notes, Milos shows off his skills as a classical guitarist in the final movement of the Turkish-inspired piece. Listen out for the percussive playing – there’s no drum to be found though, all the sounds are created by the instrument.

12. Epitaphs - 3. A Day In May

If you wanted maypoles and traditional country dancing, think again. We move to Greece in this Mediterranean guitar tour, with music by composer Mikis Theodorakis.

13. Epitaphs - 4. You Have Set, My Star

This cycle by Mikis Theodorakis translates perfectly to the guitar. Milos’ playing brings out the tunes in the lower ranges of the instrument as well as the pitter-patter of higher notes.

14. Capricho Arabe Serenata

Music perfect for a smooth guitar, Tárrega’s Capricho sounds like it flows under Milos’ fingers. The cheerful tune evokes a warm summer day, whatever the weather.

15. Catalan Folk Songs - El testament d'Amelia

A musical tragedy, the subject of the folk song, Amèlia, dies from a broken heart, having lost her unfaithful husband to her own mother. The forlorn theme translates into a song without words, wonderfuly executed by Milos.

16. Danzas españolas, Op.37 - No.5 Andaluza

Completing our Mediterranean tour back where we started, the fifth movement of the Spanish dances suite by Isaac Albéniz brings us back to southern Spain. The occasional moments of music in a positive major key bring a ray of sunshine to the sultry melody.

17. Danzas españolas, Op.37 - No.2 Oriental

Peaceful and pretty, the second of Albéniz’s Spanish dances rounds off the album. The pulsing rhythms are gone, and all that’s left is the simple guitar melody. Beautiful.