While the numbers alone might seem significant, the number 15 does give this etude its place among a larger opus. Fernando Sor wrote two opuses, collections of etudes, ten years apart from each other (Opus 6 and Opus 29). Together these comprise Sor's 24 Etudes, later republished and renumbered by guitarist Andrés Segovia. Unfortunately, Etude No. 15 is not located in Segovia's edition! While there is no original manuscript of this Etude, many other published editions exist. In this lesson, Mak gives a very systematic description of the various elements required to learn the most from this study. Though it is less than two minutes long when performed, Etude No. 15 is stocked with technical insights, opportunities for imagination, and potential in a concert program.

In this lesson Slovenian guitarist Mak Grgic offers an in depth look at Fernando Sor's Study Op.29 No.22, also known as study number 18 from Andrés Segovia's renumbering. After clarifying the etude naming conventions and the many editions published, Mak talks about everything from legato, voicing, and harmony, to breathing and coloristic playing. Several key ideas appear repeatedly in the lesson, such as the importance of Sor’s decision to write this piece in E-flat, and how breathing while playing helps dictate the start and end points of phrases. Mak analyzes the ways in which Sor manipulates tension through his chord progressions, and performs the etude in various ways to demonstrate interpretation options. Finally, Mak imagines the etude as an orchestral work to extract colors from his guitar in creative and mesmerizing ways. By the end of the lesson you’ll have the wisdom you need to practice this piece effectively.