Historic Relevance

The Spanish vihuelistas made important contributions to the development of musical language during the XVI century. Some of these contributions are:

• Systematic use of tempo markings.
• The first example in music history of the Theme and Variations form named Diferencias (Differences). Narváez wrote several diferencias: Diferencias sobre guárdame las vacas, Veintidós diferencias de Conde Claros para discantar, Otras tres diferencias hechas por otra parte.
• Development of tonality. Their music offer an excellent example of the transition between modality and tonality.
• Development of an instrumental style and creation of an important repertoire for vihuela and voice.
• Development of harmonic type accompaniment.

Additional information:

• Vihuela
• Tablature

Listen to the vihuela:

• Calata a l'espagnola
• La Jotta
• Milán: Fantasias I a la VI
• Milan - Fantasia X
• Milán: Fantasía XI / XVIII / XII
• Milan: Pavana 1 & Fantasia 1
• Milan, Pavan IV
• Mudarra: Fantasía X
• Mudarra: Fantasía
• Narváez: Guardame las vacas
• Narváez: Guardame las vacas
• Narváez: La Canción del Emperador
• Narvaez - Fantasia del quarto tono
• Valderrábano: Soneto
• Hopkinson Smith playing vihuela