The Art of the Classical Guitar

About this course:

This course offers a unique journey through the history and development of the modern-day classical guitar. We explore its music from the Renaissance to the 20th century, starting with the sixteenth-century baroque guitar music of Gaspar Sanz and the early nineteenth-century guitar craze known as Guitarmania (La Guitaromanie) to the Debussy-inspired works of Toru Takemitsu. These works serve as a gateway to understanding the various societal, cultural, technological and political influences that shaped the instrument's development. We also delve into the lives and works of renowned guitarists like Francisco Tárrega, Miguel Llobet, Andres Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams, providing a comprehensive view of the guitar's evolution. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.