Bartolomé Calatayud (1882–1973) was a Spanish guitarist, composer, and teacher from the island of Mallorca. A student of Francisco Tárrega and a contemporary of Miguel Llobet, Calatayud carried forward the Romantic Spanish guitar tradition with his lyrical compositions and refined technique. He wrote numerous pieces for guitar, many of which are accessible to students yet rich in musical expression, including Vals, Mazurka, and Tango. As a teacher, he influenced generations of guitarists in Spain, helping to preserve and promote classical guitar during the early 20th century.

As a lullaby, there should be strong emphasis on the smooth, flowing quality of the melody. The melodic line must be brought out with care and sensitivity, always remaining the primary focus. A legato feel also helps (subject to opinion, of course!). Although the notes are plucked individually, the guitarist should aim to connect them seamlessly to create a lyrical, vocal quality.

In bar 1, Calatayud presents a technical challenge contributes to this piece being classified at Grade 4 rather than Grade 3. In the score, the left hand fingers are notated as a ‘positional’ chord change. In other words, stay in first postion and use the appropriate finger for each note when the chord changes. On paper, this sounds straight forward, but being first position where the frets are at their widest, this is far from simple. The alternative is to use fingers 1 and 2 to ‘slide’ up to the next chord (III position) before navigating a path back down (with the C on either string 2 or 3 depending on your preference). There are some nice options here and this can help to smooth out the sound if your position shifts are quick/accurate enough.

There is also a potential moment of trepidation in bar 7 , where Calatayud introduces a wider stretch across the fretboard between the D on the second string and the G♯ on the sixth. This demands a flexible hand and accurate finger placement. Aim to stay on the fingertips and keep the fingers curved as you play this passage. Try to avoid letting the fingers ‘buckle’ when stretching (i.e. maintain control).

Relaxation and economy of movement are key to maintaining the calm, cradle-like atmosphere of the lullaby, so practice the most technically challenging parts slowly to avoid building in tension into your muscle memory.

The accompaniment should remain soft and supportive, allowing the melody to sing freely. Phrasing must be shaped with care, using gentle dynamic swells to mirror the natural rise and fall of each musical idea. Throughout, players are encouraged to focus on tone quality, expressive shaping, and smooth transitions between notes. The simplicity of the writing is deceptive—true musicality lies in the control, subtlety, and delicacy with which it is performed. This study offers an excellent opportunity to refine legato technique and melodic phrasing in a gentle and intimate musical setting.