Le premier pas vers moi, op. 53

This work, Le premier pas vers moi or “The first step towards me” for two guitars, was first published in Paris in 1832-33. It is a simple work for beginners. The original title is as follows: Le premier pas vers moi. Petit duo pour deux guitares composé et dédié à ceux qui ayant appris à jouer de cet instrument, voyent de grandes difficultés où il n’y a que de la correction (‘The first step towards me. A small duet for two guitars, composed and dedicated to those who, having learnt to play this instrument, see great difficulties where there is only correct writing’.) Inside the original edition is an Avertissement or preface, whose complete text is as follows: Le but de ce petit ouvrage n’est autre que celui de faciliter le moyen de passer du système de déplacement et d’efforts continuels à celui indiqué par la nature et la construction de la main. En suivant le doigté marqué, et en ne faisant point faire à la main d’autre mouvement que celui qu’exige le changement de note, on contractera insensiblement l’habitude de la bien placer. Si après avoir joué la première guitare on étudie la seconde, on perdra l’habitude de tenir la moitié de la main derrière la manche, et on se servira du pouce seulement pour recevoir la pression au lieu de presser luirnême ni faire des notes que sa longueur ne lui permet nullement d’atteindre sans déplacer la main et contracter le poignet. (‘The aim of this short work is only to make it easy to move from the system of displacement and continual efforts, to that which is indicated by the nature and construction of the hand. By following the fingering indicated, and by not making the hand make any movement other than that which is necessitated to change note, one will imperceptibly acquire the habit of placing it well. If after playing the first guitar one then plays the second, one will lose the habit of keeping half the hand behind the neck of the guitar, and one will use the thumb only to receive pressure, instead of itself pressing and stopping notes which its length does not at all permit it to reach without displacing the hand and contracting the wrist.’) The words on the title-page, and the preface, emphasize the value of the work for beginners, and especially the importance of using the left hand thumb only for support and never for stopping notes on the fingerboard. The title (“The first step towards me”) means that the piece is a first step for beginners in learning to play the guitar specifically in Sor’s way. This edition comes from the new 2019 second edition of Sor’s New Complete Works for Guitar edited by Brian Jeffery. The Introduction and Index to the entire series are here in nkoda. This new edition is copyright © by Brian Jeffery 2019. Your cooperation is requested in not making illegal copies for other people. Brian Jeffery