Fernando Sor’s World
Emmy-Nominated, John Doan has completed a book about Fernando Sor titled:
Visions and Dreams: Hope Amidst Misfortune
Fernando Sor – The Father of the Classical Guitar
One of the highlights of Doan’s research is acquiring one of Sor’s instruments from 1819. This instrument is noteworthy for being one of the first six-string guitars in England, versus other forms of stringed instruments that were popular at that time.
It features the first mechanical tuners on a guitar, versus wooden pegs.
Sor also pioneered playing the first amplified guitar in history!
Doan’s new book features sheet music that narrates Sor’s story through music, along with his complete autobiography, which is presented for the first time in English.
Doan also includes an etching of Sor at the age of thirteen.
In 1791, Sor posed with his boys’ choir at the Monastery of Montserrat, as depicted in this rare etching.
Even Goya depicts Sor at the age of 24, a fact unknown to art historians.
The presence of authentic instruments tells a story beyond words. Imagine encountering a dital harp, a harp lute guitar, Lyre-Guitar, Baroque guitar, or an “English guittar” from the “World of Sor.” Among these forgotten instruments, Sor introduced the sixth-string guitar to England, which is still gaining popularity today.
This book, Which chronicles Sor’s life and showcases the collection of instruments from his world, will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to many museum exhibitions. Its unique perspective on the guitar will captivate attendees. .
The remarkable aspect is that these instruments are merely a part of comprehending the world Sor inhabited. They reflect a distinct approach of perceiving music in general, which Sor himself was at odds with during his own time. An exhibition featuring these instruments and the thought processes they embodied should leave a lasting impression on those curious about the world that preceded us and the world yet to come.