Tárrega wrote some of the best classical guitar pieces. He knew the guitar thoroughly and the only valid reason to review his work is because of the type of instrument, strings and technique used by the Spanish master. Tárrega used fingernails until the last nine years of his life. In 1900, Tárrega withdrew from doing concerts and started to play with the flesh. Pujol described Tárrega's use of the flesh as giving a clear sound because of the "width, smoothness, and firmness of the body that set the strings vibrating. This certain touch must be developed". Pujol added, echoing Fuenllana, that "the flesh best transmits the feeling of the soul ...such an unresponsive medium as nails interferes, somehow with the direct contact of the artist's sensibility to the string." Read more n the nail VS no nail controversy here.
Capricho Arabe is an enormous piece. 400 years of Moorish occupation of the Iberian peninsula have left a huge, eternal mark... The guitar has an instrument was brought in by the Arabs and became Spain instrument...Although the 2 cultures never mixed and the 2 monotheistic religions showed respect for one another, it is in music and a few Spanish words (all Spanish words containing al are of Arabic origin) that the best of the 2 comes together....
Great players have recorded this work many times and although many think it is difficult to play, it is not. The scales have to be examined technically before playing them and they are not meant to be played fast. Showing off is for immature souls with little or nothing meaningful to say. What you hear in a recording cannot be reproduced in a real musical scenario like a concert for friends or family. Nobody claps intentions... "I meant to play it like Segovia but... damn !! It did not work....". This piece is magical and it need understanding each phrase and, as always, leave nothing to chance. Practice is the lab..the place where you, the wizard, mixes the ingredients... take all time in the world and play slow enough not to allow error to enter your practice. It is not obligatory to make mistakes.