Career
He began teaching classical guitar in Washington, District of Columbia, in the 1920s, when the lack of published guitar music led him to found the Columbia Music Company. Perhaps best known is Papas"s "Method for the Classic Guitar" (494-00194 / Colorado 300), and his revised edition of Fernando Sor"s "Sixty Short Pieces for Guitar" (Volume(s) I: Nos 1 through 38, 494-00227 / Colorado 170a. And Volume(s) II: Nos 39 through 60, 494-00227 / Colorado 170b), first published in 1963.
All publications can be ordered through the Theodore Presser Company.
Papas was also a regular contributor to many scholarly music journals, notably Crescendo. Additional publications from the Columbia Music Company include:
Papas’s Bach Album: Fourteen Pieces, by J. South. Bach (Bourrée II, from Suite Number.
4 for Cello, BWV 1010. Andante, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV Appendix
131; Minuet, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV Appendix
114. Minuet, from Violin Partita Number. 3, BWV 1006; Gavotte, from Gavotte en Rondeau from Violin Partita Number.
3, BWV 1006; Gavotte I, from Suite Number.
6 for Cello, BWV 1012 (revised by Elisabeth Papas Smith). Gavotte II, from Suite Number. 6 for Cello, BWV 1012.
Minuet, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV Appendix
115; Minuet III, from Suite in G, BWV 822. Minuet, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV Appendix
132. Gavotte II (Musette), from French Suite Number.
3, BWV 808; Prelude, or Little Prelude for Lute, BWV 999. Sarabande, from Violin Partita Number.
1, BWV 1002. Bourrée, from Lute Suite Number.
1, BWV 996), arranged by Sophocles Papas (494-00213 / Colorado 169). Five Catalan Melodies (El Noy de la Mare, El Testamento de Amelia, Plany, Louisiana Filla del Marxant, El Mestre), revised by Sophocles Papas (494-00204 / Colorado 232).
Arpeggio Studies, edited and fingered by Sophocles Papas (494-00368 / Colorado 257). Eight Lessons, fingered by Sophocles Papas (494-00189 / Colorado 160).