Carulli Waltz (Op. 241, No. 1)

If you have ever even looked at a collection of classical guitar music, then chances are almost at 100% that you’ve encountered Ferdinando Carulli. He was an Italian composer, performer, and author of the influential Méthode complète pour guitare ou lyre, op. 27 (1810)^[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinando_Carulli. His total number of opuses is 336^[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Ferdinando_Carulli! That’s a lot of music. Obviously, you can look him up on Wikipedia if you want a general overview. However, let’s get to the Carulli Waltz Op. 241, No. 1.

Publications of Carulli Waltz Op. 241, No. 1

The original of this piece is from the second iteration of Carulli’s method, Méthode complète pour parvenir à pincer de la guitar, op. 241 (ca. 1825)^[3]https://imslp.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_de_guitare%2C_Op.241_(Carulli%2C_Ferdinando). The arrangement of this piece appears in almost all of the Royal Conservatory series. You can also download (below) my notation that includes tablature for those that might want it.

About The Piece

The Waltz falls directly in the beginner’s repertoire. The key of C major makes it ideal for those that have not progressed to learning accidentals. It also trains the right-hand fingers well to move in sympathetic motion with the alternation of the thumb. The short scalar passages add variety and give motion to cadence points. Measure 15 and mm. 17-24 add playing two notes simultaneously with the thumb and a finger. Carulli has a D.C. al Fine at the end of the piece that helps teach the symbols for creating order in music notation.

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.