Extended Techniques for the Classical Guitar - Robert Lunn Composer

movement of the Sonata. Ginastera notates this technique with a drawing of a closed fist
(Figure 3.3).
Figure 3.3 Tambora with a closed fist in Sonata by Alberto Ginastera.
An example of this can be found in the final movement, “Finale.”
Example 3.11 Tambora with the clenched fist in the fourth movement, “Finale,”
from Sonata by Alberto Ginastera. Measure 2.
Ginastera uses the closed fist to serve two purposes. The first is to create a
percussive attack on the off beats. The second reason is that the closed fist is in the ready
position for a rasgueado 5 . Ginastera states in the program notes:
The combination of “rasgueado” and “tambora” is a percussive effect which marks the rhythms at
the off beat. The “rasgueado” is achieved by a fast, energetic brushing by the fingers of the right
hand. The “tambora” chords are played by the right hand’s clenched fist which hits the strings
over the soundhole dryly with the last phalanx of all fingers in order to subdue all vibration. At
fortissimo the strokes must be sufficiently energetic to cause the strings to rebound against the
fingerboard. This effect of Argentinean popular style playing is essential to the fulfillment of the
composer’s intentions. 6
5 Rasgueado’s are discussed in Chapter 5.
6 Alberto Ginastera, Sonata for Guitar, (London: Boosey & Hawkes, 1978), 11.
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