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.
The second volume features the sheet music of both Sor’s and Doan’s music, along with Sor’s complete autobiography, which is presented for the first time in English.
Sor also pioneered playing the first amplified guitar in history!
Doan’s writing is divided into two volumes. The first volume delves into Sor’s history and narrates his story through Sor’s and Doan’s music.
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.
In the above etching, Goya depicts Sor at the age of 24, a fact unknown to art historians. This artwork is on the cover of “Visions and Dreams.”
Outside of the book, the presence of authentic instruments would tell 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.” These are forgotten instruments, but Sor introduced the six-string guitar to England, which is still popular today.
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. Doan hopes to plan an exhibition featuring these instruments to promote his books about Sor. The thought processes these instruments embody would leave a lasting impression on those curious about the world that preceded us and the world yet to come.