The Guitar

The Guitar
Author: Harvey Turnbull
Publisher:
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2006
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9780933224575

Guitar Makers

Guitar Makers
Author: Kathryn Marie Dudley
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 375
Release: 2014-11-10
Genre: Music
ISBN: 022609541X

It whispers, it sings, it rocks, and it howls. It expresses the voice of the folk—the open road, freedom, protest and rebellion, youth and love. It is the acoustic guitar. And over the last five decades it has become a quintessential American icon. Because this musical instrument is significant to so many—in ways that are emotional, cultural, and economic—guitar making has experienced a renaissance in North America, both as a popular hobby and, for some, a way of life. In Guitar Makers, Kathryn Marie Dudley introduces us to builders of artisanal guitars, their place in the art world, and the specialized knowledge they’ve developed. Drawing on in-depth interviews with members of the lutherie community, she finds that guitar making is a social movement with political implications. Guitars are not simply made—they are born. Artisans listen to their wood, respond to its liveliness, and strive to endow each instrument with an unforgettable tone. Although professional luthiers work within a market society, Dudley observes that their overriding sentiment is passion and love of the craft. Guitar makers are not aiming for quick turnover or the low-cost reproduction of commodities but the creation of singular instruments with unique qualities, and face-to-face transactions between makers, buyers, and dealers are commonplace. In an era when technological change has pushed skilled artisanship to the margins of the global economy, and in the midst of a capitalist system that places a premium on ever faster and more efficient modes of commerce, Dudley shows us how artisanal guitar makers have carved out a unique world that operates on alternative, more humane, and ecologically sustainable terms.

The Development of the Modern Guitar

The Development of the Modern Guitar
Author: John Huber
Publisher:
Total Pages: 120
Release: 1991
Genre: Guitar
ISBN: 9780933224599

With an emphasis on the musical history of the last 150 years, this book presents scholarly information about the great schools of guitar design, together with down-to-earth discussions of such practical subjects for guitarists as the problems of practicing and making a career. The author not only furnishes detailed technical information on the design and construction of every major international make of fine guitar, but offers a useful thumbnail refresher course on the great luthiers and marketing trends of the last 150 years, covering all the famous names in anecdotal detail.

The Classical Guitar

The Classical Guitar
Author: John Morrish
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Total Pages: 134
Release: 2002
Genre: Music
ISBN: 0879307250

Offering essays by the world's top experts in a full-color, coffee-table quality book, this is the first work to tell the complete story of the classical guitar and its repertoire, players and makers - from its 19th century European roots to modern international interpretations. This handsome softcover volume features lavish photography of classical guitars made by the best luthiers in the world. Additional essays cover use of the classical guitar in pop music, different playing and teaching techniques, the collectors' market, and the science of the guitar. It also features profiles of legendary artists such as Andres Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams, plus a full discography, a glossary, an index, a bibliography, and a guitar measurement chart.

The Guitar

The Guitar
Author: Harvey Turnbull
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1976
Genre: Guitar
ISBN:

A Concise History of the Classic Guitar

A Concise History of the Classic Guitar
Author: Graham Wade
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2010-10-07
Genre: Music
ISBN: 160974280X

A Concise History of the Classic Guitar by Graham Wade, one of the foremost international writers on the guitar, explores the history of the instrument from the 16th century to the present day. This compact assessment of five centuries of fretted instruments cover the vihuela in Spain, the history of four-course and five-course guitars, the evolution of tablature, and developments in the six-string guitar in the 19th century. the work also charts the contribution of leading composers, performers and luthiers of the 20th century, and evaluates the influence of Segovia, Llobet, Pujol, Presti, Bream, Williams, etc., among the world's famous guitarists. This book, intended for the general public and guitar students of all ages, is the first interpretative history of the classic guitar to be published in the 21st century, and will be eagerly welcomed by all lovers of the instrument.

Guitar Ergonomics

Guitar Ergonomics
Author: Martín Pedreira
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2021-01-06
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1513455877

As the title of his book attests, guitarist and musicologist Martín Pedreira presents a methodical treatment addressing the most highly refined guitar techniques. In my opinion, we should not confuse the methodical with the routine, because the latter does not facilitate the completion of any task. We applaud Pedreira for his rigorous vision of instrumental practice and his meticulous attention to the physical-motor aspects of the instrumentalist. This reference book is worthy of frequent consultation for its valuable suggestions. Leo Brouwer This comprehensive reference book integrates the historical, structural, technical, and ergonomic aspects of classic guitar performance with the individual player’s cultural, intellectual, creative, and emotional facets in what the author calls a psychophysiological approach to interpretation. In addition to its emphasis on ergonomic posture and technique, the book includes over 200 short musical excerpts by Sor, Giuliani, Coste, Tárrega, Barrios, Montoya, Ponce, Pujol, Villa-Lobos, Rodrigo, Brouwer and others— illustrating practically every aspect of classic and flamenco guitar technique. This unique Wholistic Perspective of Technique Through Repertoire will be useful to teachers, aspiring composers, and to students and professionals forming recital and concert programs. Given the author’s extensive survey of technique and repertoire from an ergonomic point of view, it is likely that even seasoned concert artists and teachers will find something new of intense interest to share with their audiences and students. No classic guitarist’s library would be complete without this landmark book! The author’s goal in presenting this multifaceted approach is to provide theoretical and practical coordinates for improving guitar interpretation while acknowledging the player’s intellectual and emotional contributions. While there is no companion recording for this book, many of its examples can be heard in their entirety on YouTube. The inclusion of numerous quotes from renowned guitar virtuosos and other instrumentalists, plus statements by non-musician artists, scientists, and psychophysical experts from the Renaissance to the present day — emphasize the wholistic nature of this book. Readers are encouraged to put everything they have into their performances, including technique and musicianship, of course, but also general cultural knowledge and, yes – personal experience, feelings and even spirituality in order to: “… Enchant instead of astonishing the audience… [and] play more for the heart than for the eyes.” – Alexandre Lavignac, La Educación Musical

John Williams: Changing the Culture of the Classical Guitar

John Williams: Changing the Culture of the Classical Guitar
Author: Michael O'Toole
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2019-04-08
Genre: Music
ISBN: 0429683995

This book assesses the influence and reception of many different forms of guitar playing upon the classical guitar and more specifically through the prism of John Williams. Beginning with an examination of Andrés Segovia and his influence upon Williams’ life’s work, a further three incisive chapters cover key areas such as performance, perception, education and construction, considering social and cultural contexts of the guitar over the past century. A final chapter on new directions in classical guitar examines the change in reception of the instrument from the mid-1970s to the present day, and Williams’ impact upon what might be termed ‘standard classical guitar repertoire’. With in-depth discussion of the cultural and perceptual impact of Williams’ more daring crossover projects and numerous musical examples, this is an informative reference for all classical guitar practitioners, as well as scholars and researchers of guitar studies, reception studies, cultural musicology and performance studies. An online lecture by the author and a transcript of the author’s interview with John Williams are also available as e-resources.