Fernando Sor Mini Challenge 
Hey tonebuddies! 
We're super thrilled to announce a community challenge that will tickle the strings of all you classical guitar enthusiasts! The Fernando Sor Challenge, a deep dive into the exquisite world of classical guitar compositions, brought to life through a fantastic upcoming livestream with the remarkable Eduardo Fernandez! Inspired by Fernandez's upcoming performance, we thought it would be incredible to resonate his works through our own interpretations! 
The Challenge:
We invite you to record and upload a video of yourself performing a composition by the legendary Fernando Sor. Immerse yourself in the soundscapes of classical guitar and share your unique talent, passion, and skill. Let's unite to appreciate and celebrate the multifaceted world of Sor's classical guitar.
How to participate:
Record a video of yourself performing a Fernando Sor composition. Upload your video to your chosen platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Share the link to your video in the comments section below. Don't forget to add a brief description about your chosen piece and what makes it significant to you.
Bonus Points: Share a link to your favourite Fernando Sor composition performed by a master!
Interact and engage:
Don't miss the opportunity to engage with your fellow tonebuddies members! Show your support by leaving comments, constructive feedback, and appreciation for their performances. Let's inspire each other to delve deeper into the world of Sor's music.
Reward:
While there isn't a physical prize, the reward lies in the opportunity to highlight your talent, gain valuable feedback, and forge connections with other like-minded guitar lovers who have an affinity for Sor's music. Who knows? You might even strike a chord with new friends!
Need inspiration?
If you're a newcomer to Fernando Sor's music, fear not! Tune into the upcoming livestream with Eduardo Fernandez for an incredible journey into Sor's compositions. Let his interpretations guide you and spark your imagination.
Find more tutorials here:
On your marks, get set, practice!
We are incredibly excited to witness your fantastic renditions of Fernando Sor's compositions. Let's come together and truly immerse ourselves in the magical world of classical guitar!
Happy practicing, tonebuddies! 
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Sor is always a pleasure to play.....I paste here my recording of estudio XI opus 6....the recording sound is not very good
I´ll record something more in the comming days....Fernando Sor have plenty of stuff
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JUAN ALONSO Very nice, Juan. Such a great study and very well-played.
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Those who frequent these forums know that I am always working on something by Sor. Recently, I have taken to doing all the pieces within an entire opus. I have completed opus 51 and 47, and yesterday I just began opus 32.
Here are some new videos I just made today of a couple of the pieces I have recently worked on.
- Andantino Op 32 No 1 - Such a simple piece, solidly in the Sor style, but just to make it fun, he added these little flourishes that I find quite challenging to play quickly and gracefully. I submitted this to the monthly challenge yesterday, but here is today's update.
- Cantabile Op 47 No 5 - This is my favorite of the pieces from opus 47. It's not easy for me, especially when the texture gets rather busy (at measure 25 I think?).
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Eric Phillips Wonderful performances, oh ye son of Sor. I have played the op 32.1 as a sort of sign reading exercise (I have Sor's complete studies and would just open it up and try to play whatever.) The flourishes would always throw me for a loop. BTW I realized multiple readings don't qualify as 'sight reading' - but hey - don't pop my bubble. I never actually worked it up and never played it with grace as you have here.
Op. 47.5 is very nice and your performance is up to your very high standard. Beautiful!
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack! I have become so forgetful that anytime I read music, it is sight-reading.
They say there are three signs of getting older:
- Forgetting things
- I can't remember
- I can't remember
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Eric Phillips Well, 2 out of 3. I guess I'll be old soon.
What were we talking about?
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Eric Phillips very well played Eric, I think with the Cantabile you set yourself another step forward in your interpretation, bravo!
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Jack Stewart Eric Phillips BTW, what this forum is all about?
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise. I really like that one, so I decided to work on memorizing it, which always helps in making it more musical.
Forum? What's that?
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Eric Phillips Very nice performances, Eric! I particularly like the Cantabile - it's really a beautifully composed piece. As you say, the 'little flourishes' Sor throws in every now and then really make his music challenging to play. I suspect part of the difficulty is due to the high tension of modern guitar strings. The left hand really has to work to bring out the slurred passages clearly. I would guess that on a period instrument with gut strings, the clarity would be more easily achieved. Having said that, I would add that you are managing them very well nonetheless. Your left hand control is very impressive!
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Eric Phillips Those are really sounding good, Eric. I wasn't familiar with either of those, but then he has a pretty expansive catalog.
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David Krupka Thanks, David. I've been working on the Cantabile every day for about a month now, I think. I'd love to get a period instrument to play Sor's music on, but that's not happening anytime soon.
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Steve Price Thanks, Steve. I am always discovering more Sor that I had never heard before.
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Eric Phillips Hi Eric, thanks for sharing...I never heard these pieces before, so thanks you for the chance to discover new stuff from Fernando Sor........well played.....the cantabile sounds very welll.....congrats
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JUAN ALONSO Thanks so much, Juan!
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Another Sor's study with a humble and faithful approach to Sor's technique (without nails):
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ferran Great you join in Ferran! Jack Stewart will appreciate your nailless sound, and are you using a mix of Aquila strings?
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Thanks Blaise Laflamme for your kind words. Aquila sugar on basses and Bow Brand gut strings on trebles.
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ferran I tried a few of Aquila sets but that's the first time I hear about Bow Brand Gut? Googling...
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ferran Very nice, Ferran. As Blaise referred to, I have had to adopt playing w/o nails for the last 3 months or so. It has been a difficult transition but it has just stared to get better. You sound is very good. I notice you approach the strings from underneath. I haven't made that change yet.
Thanks for posting.
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Jack Stewart ferran as an assumption but is it possible that nailless playing could benefits from gut strings, sound-wise?
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ferran Very beautiful sound, Ferran! Did you learn to play with that right hand technique, or did you change to it?
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Jack Stewart thanks for your answer. My technique is close to lute players. The pinky rest slightly on top too.
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Eric Phillips thanks for your answer.
I always played with fingernails but taking care of them gave me a certain neurosis (they were fragile and with a tendency to break) I had to readjust the technique by copying lutenists or guitarists like Rob Mackillop.
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ferran what a story about your nails... and you're playing nailless since when?
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ferran That's great, both the performance and the sound. I've been hearing it more and I'm liking the intimate sound of nailless playing more and more. Well done.
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