Julián Arcas

Julián Arcas (1832–1882) was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer. He was born in Almería and died in Antequera.

During the decade 1860–70 he performed all over Europe. The young Francisco Tárrega listened to him in 1862 in Castellón and played for him after the performance, on the request of Tárrega’s father. Arcas then invited Tárrega to study with him in Barcelona. Arcas wrote about eighty original works and transcriptions for the guitar, including waltzes, variations, preludes and dances. Thirty were published in Barcelona by Vidal y Roger and fifty in Madrid by Unión Musical Española.

Through the work of the guitar maker Antonio de Torres, Arcas influenced the development of the classical guitar, particularly with regard to the design of the soundboard.