John Williams.
Serious classical guitar aficionados may think this piece overexposed, but I'm going to bet that most readers of this blog haven't heard it that often. And it's very beautiful, as well as technically impressive: "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" ("Memories of the Alhambra"), by Francisco Tárrega.
I mentioned last week that I had once given away a cd of Christopher Parkening playing Vivaldi lute concertos (on guitar) because it seemed to lack something. A couple of these concertos, along with one or two for mandolin, were among the first classical music I ever came to love, and mentioning them made me want to hear them again. So here's Williams doing one. I like this performance better. Thinking back on it, I believe part of the problem with the Parkening recording was that the orchestra was too big and lush. Williams plays here with a very small ensemble, and it works better with the guitar. This video is visually enjoyable, too, for the setting. I believe it's from a dvd called The Seville Concert. Instrumentally the concerto is not a great showpiece, but it's very enjoyable. And deservedly popular: you may well recognize the music even if you don't recognize the title.
Want to hear that concerto on an actual lute? It sounds a bit smaller and brighter than the guitar, with a distinctive resonance. This performance seems rather…caffeinated, and almost abrasive in comparison to the one above, but I like it, too.
Light On Dark Water 
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