Solo guitar piece inspired by Indian history and Auckland's Alberton House.


Where is Seringapatam?

This solo classical guitar composition, in G tuning, is a musical tribute to Seringapatam — a town in Karnataka, India, known for its religious, cultural, and historic significance. It was written by Bruce Paine for his *Alberton* DVD project, inspired by the iconic 1863 Alberton house in Auckland, New Zealand. The house's blend of Scottish and Indian architectural styles sparked the idea for this piece.

The name *Seringapatam* was chosen in 2009, when it was thought to be the birthplace of Alberton’s founder, Allan Kerr Taylor. In 2018, however, baptism records revealed he was in fact baptised in Negapatam on 9 January 1832 — son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Taylor of the 39th Madras Native Infantry.

Recordings:

  • *Alberton* DVD and CD set
  • *Guitar Recital: Herbig, Gunter - PAINE, B. (Waitematā Reverie - New Zealand Guitar Music, Vol. 3)* — NAXOS 8.574121
  • Live broadcast on RNZ Concert (2024)

Difficulty: Intermediate / Grade 5

Purchase: The score is available as an ebook via Lulu Publishing (AU$10.74 at last check).