Jorge Morel, Happy Birthday!

Yesterday, the classical guitar world celebrated the birthday of Jorge Morel. He was born with the name Jorge Scibona (9 May 1931 – 10 February 2021), known professionally as Jorge Morel, was a classical guitarist and composer from Argentina. He went by Morel due to the mispronunciation of his given name.

Table of Contents

Biography

Jorge Morel (May 9, 1931 – February 10, 2021) was an Argentine classical guitarist and composer. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a family of Sicilian descent. His father, Domingo, taught him the rudiments of classical guitar from age seven. He went on to study advanced guitar at the internationally renowned Academy of Pablo Escobar in Buenos Aires, and after graduating, joined Escobar in radio and concert performances.

Performer

In 1957, Morel left Argentina to perform in Ecuador, Colombia, and Cuba, where he recorded his first solo LP and appeared in a weekly TV show. In 1960, he moved to New York City, where he quickly established himself as a leading figure in the classical guitar world. He performed regularly at Carnegie Hall and other major venues, and major labels such as RCA Victor and Decca released his recordings.

Compositions

Morel was a prolific composer, and his works for solo guitar, guitar and orchestra, and chamber music are widely performed by guitarists around the world. He was also a gifted arranger, and his transcriptions of popular songs and jazz standards are considered to be some of the finest ever recorded.

In addition to his performing and composing career, Morel was also a dedicated teacher. He was a professor of music and classical guitar at Lehman College in New York City, and he gave master classes and workshops around the world. He was also a founding member of the Guitar Foundation of America.

Morel mastered the classical guitar, and his playing dispayed technical brilliance, lyrical expression, and deep musicality. He was a true ambassador of the guitar, and his music inspired and enriched countless people around the world.

Morel died in Orlando, Florida, on February 10, 2021, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Olga, and their two children.

Here are some of his notable achievements:

Awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Inducted into the Guitar Hall of Fame in 2010.
Awarded the Order of the Phoenix by the Argentine government in 2011.
Named one of the 100 most influential guitarists of all time by Guitar Player magazine in 2012.

His Compositional Style

Jorge Morel’s compositions are characterized by their technical brilliance, lyrical expression, and deep musicality. He was a master of the classical guitar, and his compositions reflect his deep understanding of the instrument’s capabilities.

Morel’s music is often infused with elements of Latin American folk music and jazz. He was a native of Argentina, and his music often reflects the rhythms and melodies of his homeland. He was also a great admirer of jazz, and his music often features complex harmonies and improvisational passages.

Morel’s compositions are also notable for their variety. He wrote in a wide range of styles, from the traditional to the avant-garde. His works include solo guitar pieces, chamber music, and pieces for guitar and orchestra.

Some of Morel’s most popular compositions include:

“Danza Brasilera“
“Sonatina (link to II Andante Espressivo)“
“Milonga del Viento“
“Prelude for Olga“

These pieces are all technically demanding, but they are also lyrical and expressive. They showcase Morel’s mastery of the classical guitar and his deep musicality.

Morel’s compositions have been recorded by many of the world’s leading guitarists, including John Williams, Julian Bream, and Eliot Fisk. They are also widely studied by guitarists at conservatories and universities around the world.

Jorge Morel Performing

The following video is a little concert (as the title says) from 1989. Morel plays a number of his arrangements. After the video, you’ll find a link to one of my favorite recordings.

The recording Morel: Guitar Music by the Turkish-born Celil Refik Kaya. I feel he captures the sound of Morel very well. It has been playing in the background at work throughout the day today. Happy birthday Jorge!

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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.