La Catedral (composition)


La Catedral is a three-movement suite for solo classical guitar composed by Agustín Barrios Mangoré.
The second and third movements were written in 1921, while the first movement was composed and added later in 1938. Barrios was inspired by the magnificent Cathedral of Montevideo and by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, elements of which are reflected in the piece.
La Catedral is widely regarded as one of Barrios's masterpieces and is a staple of the classical guitar repertoire. Barrios himself recorded it in the early 20th century with the Odeon label, making it one of his rare but invaluable recordings. The piece also received praise from Andrés Segovia.

Structure

The suite consists of:
  1. Preludio saudade
  2. Andante religioso
  3. ''Allegro solemne''

''Prelude (Saudade)''

The first movement—the third in chronological order—reflects a sense of nostalgia and contemplation prior to a person entering a religious building. Barrios used the Portuguese term "saudade" as a subtitle. Barrios would have indicated in his scores that the work should be performed slowly and with marked harmony.

''Andante religioso''

The second movement has an initial tonality of B minor and communicates a calm and contemplative atmosphere that recalls both the interior of the cathedral and the ringing of bells.

''Allegro solemne''

The third and final movement contrasts with the previous ones in its speed in the interpretation of the arpeggios in rondo style. It concludes with the interpretation of notes in B minor at the end of the fretboard.

Arrangements

Over the years, La Catedral has inspired numerous arrangements for various instruments, owing to its rich and engaging musical structure. In addition to orchestral adaptations, significant arrangements exist for organ and piano, offering new perspectives on the composition.
In 2020, Italian violist Marco Misciagna created a solo viola arrangement of the piece. This version preserves the spirit of the original while exploring the viola’s expressive possibilities, integrating melodic and harmonic lines into a solo performance. The viola arrangement was recorded and released by Misciagna in 2025, expanding the solo repertoire for the instrument. Misciagna also transcribed his arrangement for solo cello.

Selected discography