Carulli Serenade for Flute and Guitar

Carulli (1770-1841) was an Italian composer renowned for his contributions to classical guitar music. Born into a well-to-do family in Naples, he initially learned musical theory from a priest who was an amateur musician. While he started with the cello, Carulli fell in love with the guitar at the age of twenty and dedicated himself to mastering the instrument. Since there were no professional guitar teachers in Naples at the time, he developed his own unique playing style.

Carulli’s concerts in Naples were immensely popular, leading him to tour extensively across Europe. In 1801, he married Marie-Josephine Boyer, a French woman, and settled in Milan, where he began composing and contributing to local publications. Following a successful tour in Paris, Carulli made the city his home, becoming a prominent guitar teacher and publishing most of his works there.

His compositions included over 400 pieces for the guitar, as well as numerous works for different instrumental combinations, always featuring the guitar. His most influential work, the “Method, op. 27,” published in 1810, contained pieces still widely used in classical guitar training today. Additionally, Carulli composed works for guitar with violin or flute, several concertos for guitar with chamber orchestra, and collaborations with his son Gustavo in guitar and piano pieces.

Despite facing initial rejections from publishers who considered his music too challenging for recreational guitarists, Carulli persisted and published many of his finest works. However, some of his best pieces may have remained unpublished and lost over time. He also authored various supplements to his famous “Method, op. 27,” as well as treatises on harmony, guitar accompaniment of the voice, and collections of vocalises and solfèges.

Carulli’s music remains popular among classical guitarists, with notable recordings by renowned performers. One of his most famous works is a duet for guitar and flute, recorded by Alexander Lagoya and Jean-Pierre Rampal, while his Duo in G Op.34 gained fame in Britain as the theme tune for the television game show “The Adventure Game.” This versatile composer’s legacy continues to inspire and influence classical guitarists worldwide.