Weekend Playlist (Revisited): Ricardo Cobo Lullaby Album

I recently decided to return to sharing my weekend playlists. The music of the guitar speaks to me in many ways and at many times throughout my life. Therefore, I thought I would make the return with this post on Ricardo Cobo. Mainly, it’s because I love and cherish the little ones that give my life more meaning.

This weekend’s playlist is a bit different than usual. It is unusual because it features just one album. It is the album Lullaby by Ricardo Cobo. Cobo recorded it in 2000. According to his website (ricardocobo.com), “It has been clinically tested and shown to be 40% more effective than traditional lullabies.” I have not seen the research but I’m just going to go with it.

I decided to do this album and select pieces for my playlist because I have three kids. This album has soothed them to sleep many times. Not only does Cobo play beautifully, as always, but the selection works on the kids almost every time. By the end of the album, everyone is asleep in a hopefully magical dream world with the sounds of the guitar.

Who is Ricardo Cobo?

Ricardo Cobo is a Colombian-American classical guitarist who is considered one of the leading guitarists of his generation. He gave his professional debut with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá at age seventeen and has since performed all over the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist.

Cobo was born in Cali, Colombia, in 1962. He began his guitar studies at the age of six and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. At the age of fourteen, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Aspen Music Festival, where he studied with some of the leading guitarists in the world.

After Aspen, Cobo went on to study at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Aaron Shearer. He then continued his studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he received his bachelor’s degree in guitar performance.

Performance Career

Since graduating from college, Cobo has been a highly in-demand performer. He has appeared as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed at major festivals around the world, including the Marlboro Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival.

In addition to his solo career, Cobo is also a highly accomplished chamber musician. He has performed with many of the leading chamber ensembles in the world, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Juilliard String Quartet, and the Emerson String Quartet. He has also recorded extensively, and his recordings have been praised by critics around the world.

Cobo is a versatile guitarist who is equally at home in both classical and contemporary repertoire. He has recorded a wide range of music, including works by Bach, Sor, Brouwer, and Piazzolla. He is also a passionate advocate for new music and has premiered many works by contemporary composers.

Ricardo Cobo Honors

Cobo is a highly respected figure in the classical guitar world. He is a recipient of the Order of Cañasgordas and the Order of Belalcazar, both of which are Colombian honors for outstanding contributions to the arts. He is also a professor of guitar at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Cobo is a gifted guitarist with a wide range of musical interests. He is a passionate performer who brings a deep level of artistry to every performance. He is also a dedicated teacher who is committed to passing on his love of music to the next generation. And, I have played for him in a masterclass! I am a little bias because my former teacher, Tom Kikta, was his roommate in college.

About The Playlist (Album Really)

I have no theme or science behind the choices below. These are just some of my favorite pieces played by one of my favorite guitarists. I don’t believe this is one of Cobo’s well-known recordings. If you have never heard it, then you are in for a wonderful treat!

The works here are by some of the biggest composers in guitar and some are “hits” in the guitar world. I dare to say that the Kleynjans and the Assad compositions fall below the radar when it comes to their “hits.”

If any of this music strikes your fancy, then consider supporting Cobo by purchasing his album.

Ricardo Cobo Lullaby Album Playlist

Check out some of our other articles on scales:

• 3 Things I Am Learning From Beginner Guitar Scales in Open Position
• The Basics of Music Theory – Part 1 (The Chromatic Scale)
• Learning To Connect Two Guitar Scale Forms – Part 1
• Segovia Scales And Their Hinderances

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.