All sources are Wikipedia.
Ferdinando Carulli (9 February 1770 – 17 February 1841) (full name Ferdinando Maria Meinrado Francesco Pascale Rosario Carulli) was an Italian composer for classical guitar and the author of the influential Méthode complète pour guitare ou lyre, Opus 27 (1810), which contains music still used by student guitarists today. He wrote a variety of works for classical guitar, including numerous solo and chamber works and several concertos.
Carulli was among the most prolific composers of his time. He wrote more than four hundred works for the guitar, and countless others for various instrumental combinations, always including the guitar. His works contains pieces still widely used today in training students of the classical guitar. Along with numerous works for two guitars, works for guitar with violin or flute, and three concertos for guitar with chamber orchestra, Carulli also composed several works for guitar and piano (in collaboration with his son, Gustavo).
Many of the pieces now regarded as Carulli’s finest were initially turned down by publishers who considered them too difficult for the average recreational guitarist. It is likely that many of his best works remained unpublished and are now lost.
In addition to his highly successful Methode, Opus 27 (which went through four editions during his lifetime and a major revision, as Opus 241), Carulli also published several supplements to the method. Latter studies were intended to exploit the guitar’s accompanying capabilities, and to be used by both singer-guitarists amateurs, and voice teachers who were not proficient figured bass readers.
Classical guitarists have recorded many of his works. Arguably his most famous work is a duet for guitar and flute, which was recorded by Alexander Lagoya and Jean-Pierre Rampal , although his Duo in G Opus 34 achieved a measure of indirect fame in Britain as the theme tune of cult 1980s science fiction/television game show The Adventure Game. The Duo in G has been recorded several times, most famously by Julian Bream and John Williams.
Selection of Pieces for Inclusion in this Book
I played many pieces by Ferdinando Carulli as a student of the classical guitar and still perform them today. So, I searched my music books, anthologies, collections and recordings to identify the best pieces used for teaching, yet are still enjoyable as miniatures on their own. Of course, most technical studies were eliminated but there were many pieces to include and I arranged some of these for ukulele.
These are the results. Enjoy!