Description
As well as being known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time the Spaniard Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909) was also a composer.
He wrote his Gran Vals (a.k.a. Grande Valse) in 1902 and it is one of the most popular works in the classical guitar repertoire. Since the 1990s, when Nokia began using a version of a four bar phrase from the piece as a ringtone, it is now recognisable across the world. In 2009 it was reported that the tune was heard worldwide an estimated 1.8 billion times per day – about 20,000 times per second.
The tune was also prominently featured in Dom Joly’s hidden camera/practical joke reality television series Trigger Happy TV. The series’ signature sketch saw Joly in a quiet location such as a gallery, library, cinema or park when a loud Nokia ring tone sounded. He then lifted a gigantic novelty mobile phone shouting “Hello?!” followed by yelled dialogue about where he is and what he’s doing whilst slowing exiting the area.
