Biography (read more)
Emilio (Emili) Pujol Vilarrubí (7 April 1886 – 15 November 1980) was a Spanish composer, guitarist, and leading teacher of the classical guitar, born in Granadella near Lleida. He began studying with Francisco Tárrega in 1902 and became one of his most devoted pupils, later writing a biography of his teacher. He toured extensively as a concert guitarist, beginning with a 1918 tour of South America, and spent long periods researching the historical predecessors of the guitar, including the vihuela, in Paris and London. From 1946 to 1969 he taught guitar at the Lisbon Conservatory of Music and gave master classes internationally, including at the invitation of Andrés Segovia.
Pujol was a central figure in both the performance and scholarship of the classical guitar in the 20th century. His editions of vihuela composers such as Luis de Narváez, Alonso Mudarra, and Miguel Fuenllana for the “Monumentos de la Música Española” series remain foundational, and his own compositions and arrangements, including “Guajira,” are staples of the recital repertoire.
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