This is aflamenco guitar arrangement of Malagueña, a piano piece written by Cubanpianist/composer Ernesto Lecuona. It was originally adapted for soloSpanish/Flamenco guitar by Carlos Montoya in 1961 and is widely believed tohave been originally written for the guitar. The fact that Lecuona wrote thepiece in the style of Spain is likely what makes the Spanish guitar arrangementfeel like it belongs to the instrument. Another reason for its association withSpanish guitar is the fact that the main melody from the piece was notLecuona’s invention but was taken from the “Malagueña” flamenco form,originating out of Málaga, Spain, in the 19th century. “Malagueña,” and themelodic lines associated with it, is one of the traditional styles ofFlamenco/Andalusian music. This rendition is “in the style of Sabicas,” aSpanish Gypsy guitarist who is considered by many to be one of the finest flamenco sologuitarists of his time. Lecuona’sMalagueña is typically found as a solo piano piece in the key of C# Phrygian,whereas on the guitar, (as is the case with this arrangement) it is normallyarranged in E Phrygian.