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“Prelude to a Kiss” was composed in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills. It debuted that year in Ellington’s Carnegie Hall concert and was first recorded in June 1938. The ballad’s sophisticated harmonies—lush major–minor shifts and unexpected chromatic turns—marked a departure from the swing-era simplicity, showcasing Ellington’s gift for blending jazz with romantic, almost orchestral textures.

Lyricist Irving Gordon reportedly wrote the words in a single afternoon, inspired by the idea of love as a timeless prelude—“like the tender grace before an embrace.” The song became an early favorite of band vocalists; Manny Trent recorded a notable version in 1940, and Ella Fitzgerald later made it a staple of her 1957 Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook.

Over the decades, “Prelude to a Kiss” has been interpreted by both vocalists and instrumentalists. Bill Evans’s 1961 piano trio rendition emphasized its rich voicings, while Tony Bennett’s 1999 duet with k.d. lang rekindled its popularity for a new generation.

Prelude to a Kiss - D. Ellington

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“Tuyo” (“Yours”) is a bolero-style song written and performed in Spanish by Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante as the opening theme for Netflix’s Narcos (2015). It was released on August 28, 2015 as a single from Narcos: A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack.

Amarante conceived “Tuyo” by asking himself what kind of lullaby Pablo Escobar’s mother might have sung to her son—writing from her perspective to evoke both tenderness and the darker undertow of loyalty and obsession.

He recorded the spare arrangement himself—just voice, nylon-string guitar and subtle accordion—allowing his warm, intimate delivery to carry the melody’s yearning quality.

Upon its debut, “Tuyo” climbed to No. 6 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Digital Songs chart, marking Amarante’s first major international hit. It was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music, cementing its status as one of television’s most hauntingly memorable themes. Over the years, “Tuyo” has become emblematic of Amarante’s solo career, drawing listeners into his wider catalog—starting with his 2014 album Cavalo and beyond.

Tuyo - R. Amarante

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“Unchain My Heart” is a rhythm and blues song written by Robert Sharp Jr. and Teddy Powell, first recorded by Ray Charles and released as a single in November 1961.
Sharp originally sold the tune to Powell for just $50, and although Powell claimed half the songwriting credit, Sharp later fought to reclaim his rights and renewed the copyright for his publishing company in 1987.
Ray Charles’s recording—driven by his emotive vocals, the call‑and‑response of his backup singers the Raelettes, and a dynamic saxophone solo by David “Fathead” Newman—became an instant classic. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the R&B singles chart, further cementing Charles’s title as the “Genius of Soul”.
Over the years, the song’s enduring appeal has inspired covers by artists such as Trini Lopez (1963) and Joe Cocker (1987), the latter bringing the track back into the Top 20 in several countries.

Unchain my Heart - R. Sharp Jr

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“Speak Low” is a popular song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Ogden Nash in 1943.
 It was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker in the Broadway musical One Touch of Venus, which opened on October 7, 1943 at New York’s Imperial Theatre and ran for 567 performances. 
he song later appeared in the 1948 film adaptation of One Touch of Venus, where it was performed onscreen by Ava Gardner (dubbed by Eileen Wilson) and Dick Haymes.

Over time, “Speak Low” has become one of the most celebrated jazz standards, recorded by Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass, Chet Baker, John Coltrane, and many others .

Speak Low - K. Weill

Air on the G String – Solo Guitar Arrangement (J. S. Bach)
Transcribed and Arranged by Ricardo Farão

Bring the timeless beauty of Bach to your fingertips with this elegant solo guitar arrangement of the beloved “Air on the G String” from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068.

Thoughtfully transcribed in the key of D major, this arrangement preserves the lyrical flow, contrapuntal lines, and emotional depth of the original while adapting it naturally to the classical guitar. 

Air on the G String - J. S. Bach

Oscar Chilesotti was a dedicated Italian musicologist at the turn of the 19th century, passionate about Renaissance repertoire. In 1890, he published the precious manuscript “Da un Codice Lauten-Buch del Cinquecento”, transcribing numerous ancient lute pieces into modern notation — many of which now reappear under our hands as guitar music.

This piece, entitled "Vaghe bellezze et bionde treccie d'oro, vedi che per te moro", is No. 17 from that collection. Its title evokes the vivid elegance of golden braids and the ardent emotion of a lover on the verge of dying for his beloved — imagery typical of Italian Renaissance poetry.

Although there is no surviving record of lyrics or text, the music, with its sweet melody and gentle ornamentation, conveys an atmosphere full of ardor and nostalgia. It is as if, through the strings, the instrument whispers a passionate lament imbued with beauty and melancholy.

In this guitar arrangement, I sought to preserve that delicate and intimate aura, respecting the nuances of the counterpoint and the timbral colors that recall the soft resonance of the ancient lute.

This is my arrangement based on the original 1890 book, available at IMSLP: “Da un Codice Lauten-Buch del Cinquecento (Chilesotti, Oscar)”.

Vedi che per te Moro

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“My Funny Valentine” was written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical Babes in Arms. It was introduced on opening night (April 14, 1937) by Mitzi Green, sung by her character Billie Smith to Valentine “Val” LaMar—the source of the title. The lyric’s affectionate litany of a lover’s “flaws” helped the song feel modern and emotionally honest.

Though born on Broadway, it became a major jazz standard: early chart success arrived in 1945 (Hal McIntyre/Ruth Gaylor), and Frank Sinatra’s 1954 recording pushed it deep into the jazz repertoire. Chet Baker’s 1954 vocal turned it into a signature, and Miles Davis’s 1964 Philharmonic Hall performance (issued as My Funny Valentine: Miles Davis in Concert) sealed its iconic status for modern jazz.

My Funny Valentine - R. Rodgers

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“Honey” is a sentimental foxtrot composed by Richard A. Whiting, with lyrics by Haven Gillespie and Seymour Simons, published in 1928.
The melody’s delicate sentiment paired with nostalgic lyrics made “Honey” a staple of early 20th-century popular music. It was featured in the 1945 film Her Highness and the Bellboy.
Richard A. Whiting was a prolific American songwriter behind many enduring classics—such as Hooray for Hollywood, Ain’t We Got Fun?, and On the Good Ship Lollipop.
Haven Gillespie, similarly, contributed lyrics to other timeless works including “You Go to My Head” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”.

Honey - R. Whiting

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“Por una Cabeza” is a celebrated tango composed in 1935 by Carlos Gardel, with lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera, created for the film Tango Bar the same year.

The title, "Por una cabeza", is a horse racing metaphor (“by a head”), used in the lyric to compare narrowly losing a race to the sway of love and the allure of a woman.

Tragically, Gardel and Le Pera both died in a plane crash on June 24, 1935—just months after the song’s release—cementing their legacy as icons of tango.

The tango has since become a tango classic, featured in numerous films, notably Scent of a Woman (1992), Schindler’s List (1993), and True Lies (1994), contributing to its enduring popularity.

Por una Cabeza - C. Gardel

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Lamentos (Pixinguinha) — Solo Guitar

A modern, intimate take on the 1928 choro: a singing melody over a syncopated 2/4 sway, with walking bass and tasteful rubato.
Details: solo classical guitar • standard tuning • key: D major • instrumental (no lyrics).
Credits: arrangement & performance by Ricardo Farão.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/se/ID_No/1824606/Product.aspx
Public Domain (US) source; recording © Ricardo Farão.

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