History of classical guitar

The evolution of the classical guitar and its repertoire took more than four centuries, and its history was shaped by contributions from earlier instruments, such as the Renaissance guitar, vihuela and the baroque guitar, according to multiple published sources.

The classical guitar’s popularity has been sustained over the years by many noted players, arrangers and composers. A very short list might include, Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710), Fernando Sor (1778-1839), Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829), Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1888-1944), Andrés Segovia (1893-1987), Alirio Diaz (1923), Julian Bream (1933) and John Williams (1941).

During the Middle Ages, guitars of three, four and five strings were common. The Guitarra Latina had curved sides and reportedly came to Spain from elsewhere in Europe.

The so-called Guitarra Morisca, brought by the Moors to Spain, had an oval sound box with holes on its sound board.

By the 15th century, a four course double-string guitar called the vihuela de mano, half way between the lute and the guitar, became popular in Spain and Italy.

By the 16th century, a fifth double-string had been added.

In the 17th century, the vihuela and Renaissance five-string guitar were combined in the baroque guitar. It superseded the vihuela in popularity, and Italy became the mecca of the guitar world.

Leadership in the guitar’s evolution switched to Spain from the late 18th century, when the six-string guitar became popular.

During the 19th century, performers traveled widely and the guitar gained greater popularity outside its old strongholds in Iberia, Italy and Latin America.

During the 19th century Spaniard Antonio de Torres gave the modern classical guitar its definitive form: A broadened body, increased waist curve, thinned belly, improved internal bracing, single-string courses replacing double courses, and a machined head replacing wooden tuning pegs.

The modern classical guitar replaced the older form for the accompaniment of song and dance called flamenco, and a modified version, known as the flamenco guitar, was created.

— Vin Mannix

This story was originally published April 10, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "History of classical guitar."