Una limosnita por el amor de Dios

Agustin Barrios-Mangore (1885-1944)

Composer Agustin Barrios-Mangore (usually just called "Barrios," by guitarists) was born in Paraguay, and lived the final years of his life in San Salvador, El Salvador, where he played and taught guitar.

One evening, while teaching at home, the story goes, an old woman knocked on the door, begging. "Una limosnita por el amor de Dios," she supposedly said -- "An alm, for the love of God."

Supposedly, that knock on the door inspired Barrios to write a new piece, the tremolo masterwork named after what the old woman had said.

The music has a haunting, sad tone, and is considered one of the best examples of soulful tremolo on a classical guitar.

Barrios wrote the piece -- his last composition -- then died a month later.

Watch Ioana Grandrabur play this, and marvel not only at the sound, but at the fact that she is blind -- and has been from birth ...