| Guitar History....Although
the exact origin of the guitar is still unknown, it is widely known that,
in one form or another, it was popular in ancient times in Persia, many
Middle Eastern countries, and in Rome. It is quite possible that the
guitar evolved from the lute after the lute had been brought to Spain
during the Moorish invasion of 711, but whether introduced by the Moors or
the Romans, it eventually became the prominent feature of musical life in
Spain. It is certain that the instrument existed in Spanish surroundings
since the thirteenth century in at least two varieties: "guitarra latino"
and "vihuela." Most of the early great guitarists were Spanish and
Italian, and they were also very popular in other countries as well where
they often toured, popularized and revitalized local interest in the
guitar. Fernando Sor, (born in Barcelona, 1778, died in Paris, 1839) one
of the greatest performers and composers of the guitar, is an excellent
example of a touring guitarist who extended the influence and popularity
of the classical guitar. Interest in the guitar varied from country to
country during the Baroque and pre-Classic eras. The guitar was popular in
France at the time of Louis XIV and the King was an enthusiastic player,
as was Charles II of England. Yet during the high Baroque era there was
often a lingering preference for the temperamental, now somewhat ill fated
Lute; "a preference that seemed to be shared by such notable composers of
the era as Sylvius Leopold Weiss and Johann Sebastian Bach". The delicate
tonal properties of the Lute made tuning difficulties a constant, which
probably added to the late Classic eras "redesigned" guitar’s
popularity. Other changes in the guitar’s construction and stringing took
place in the late eighteenth century. Baroque guitars usually consisted of
five double courses (ten strings, two for each pitch). England’s guitar in
the early part of the eighteenth century, with its five double strings
suffered a decline in popular interest, being supplanted by a revival of
the ancient cittern: a small wire string instrument sounding somewhat like
a mandolin. The cittern became known as the English guitar, which has
served to confuse some historians. For instance, "when a niece of George
Washington’s wrote her uncle begging him for a guitar, the strongest
possibility is that she in fact wanted a cittern". These instruments were
gradually replaced by the six-string guitar in Italy and France and
somewhat later in Germany and Spain. Single stringing facilitated good
intonation and fluent technique and replaced the five doubled "courses"
with six single strings. It reinforced and propelled the emergence of the
guitar into the late eighteenth century. Fan strutting and other ways of
strengthening the body were also developed which had the added benefit of
increased resonance. A larger body, and hence, longer strings, as well as
the adoption of a larger, open sound whole were other changes that led, in
the early nineteenth century, to the appearance and sound of the guitar
that we know today."The instrument of the classic period
characteristically had a deeper waist than the Baroque guitar. And the
number of frets were increased to as many as eighteen compared to the
previous ten. In addition, the preference for the rosewood back and sides
appeared, now considered indispensable for the concert guitar". Perhaps
the most important difference from the contemporary instrument lies in the
shorter string length of the early nineteenth century instrument. The
resultant closer frets permitted a greater compass of notes by the left
hand. This becomes significant when a composer calls for a reach which is
impossible on today’s guitars, necessitating in some cases a change of
fingering, or in others simply an abandonment of the piece. Fortunately,
the case is not entirely insuperable in the case of most composers. While
notable composers such as Berlioz and Paganini played and composed for the
guitar, the present day revival for the instrument was initiated by
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), and the guitar’s popularity has continued
into the twentieth century with the emergence of contemporary virtuosos
such as Andres Segovia, John Williams and Julian Bream". Another factor in
the current popularity of the guitar has been the advent and popularity of
the electric guitar. Early electric guitarists found themselves taking
over rhythm section positions that were either formally non-existent, or
from banjo players in early Dixieland groups. Such was the case of a young
guitarist named Charlie Christian (credited as the first electric
guitarist) who became a spotlighted soloist in well known jazz groups such
as Benny Goodman’s. Blues, folk and rock and roll music as well evolved
around and because of the guitar, and those musical traditions still
exists today. |
