Las Abejas (Barrios)

Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944) was one of the most successful and influential guitarist/composers of the first half of the twentieth century. His compositions range from simple etudes to wildly virtuosic multi-movement works. The majority of these works fall into one of three categories: folkloric, in which pieces were modeled after South American folksongs; imitative, in which composition styles and techniques were borrowed from the Baroque and Romantic periods; and religious, in which pieces were inspired by Barrios' own religious experiences and beliefs. As a performer, his virtuosic abilities have been compared to other composer/performers such as Niccolo Paganini. Upon hearing Rimsky-Korsakov's famous Flight of the Bumblebee, Barrios wrote Las Abejas. The piece is an arpeggio etude, originally for guitar, set in a fast-paced 12/8 which showcases the virtuosic qualities of the marimba.