The Classical Guitar: A Survivor’s History
The classical guitar is a survivor. Unlike the piano or the violin, which emerged with relatively defined forms, the guitar went through millennia of “identity crisis” before becoming the instrument we know today. Below is a detailed study divided by evolutionary eras.
1. Prehistory: Chordophones and Lutes
The origin of the guitar is not a single point, but a convergence.
- Distant Ancestors: Instruments such as the Greek Kithara and the Arabic Oud.
- The Moorish Influence: When the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, they brought the Oud. In Europe, this evolved into the lute, which dominated the Renaissance.
- The Vihuela: In 16th-century Spain, the elite preferred the Vihuela de Mano (with a figure-eight body), while the common people used the lute.
2. The Baroque and the Fifth String (17th – 18th Centuries)
During this phase, the instrument was smaller and known as the Baroque Guitar.
- Innovation: It featured 5 courses of strings (usually double strings).
- The Style: The technique mixed rasgueado (strumming) with punteado (plucking).
- Key Figure: Gaspar Sanz, who wrote one of the first instruction manuals, consolidating its popularity in Spain.
3. The 19th Century Revolution: The Birth of the Modern Guitar
This is the most critical period. The guitar almost disappeared for being “too quiet” for large concert halls, until two men changed everything:
- The Sixth String and Anatomy: Around 1790, the sixth string (low E) was added and double strings were replaced by single ones. However, the instrument was still small and lacked power.
- Antonio de Torres (The “Stradivarius” of the Guitar): In the mid-1850s, Torres revolutionized the design: he increased the body size for resonance, perfected the Fan Bracing (leque), and standardized the scale length at 650 mm. Note: Practically every modern classical guitar follows Torres’s model.
4. The 20th Century: The Golden Age and Legitimacy
- Francisco Tárrega: Known as the “Sarasate of the guitar,” he established modern posture and essential techniques (thumb support and use of nails).
- Andrés Segovia: The greatest ambassador. He moved the guitar from taverns to the world’s greatest philharmonic stages, convincing composers like Villa-Lobos to write for it.
- The Advent of Nylon: In 1947, the Augustine brand, with Segovia’s help, launched the first nylon strings, ensuring tuning stability and tonal brightness.
5. The Guitar in Brazil: A Unique Identity
Brazil is one of the “spiritual homes” of the guitar.
- Heitor Villa-Lobos: His 12 Etudes and 5 Preludes are considered the “New Testament” of the classical guitar.
- Concert vs. Popular Guitar: In Brazil, the boundary is fluid. Names like Dilermando Reis and Baden Powell elevated the guitar to a level of virtuosity that blends classical rigor with the Brazilian soul.
Technical Summary of Evolution
| Era | Instrument | Strings | Main Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renaissance | Vihuela / Lute | 6 courses / Various | Used in royal courts. |
| Baroque | Baroque Guitar | 5 double courses | Popularization and rasgueado technique. |
| Classical | Romantic Guitar | 6 single strings | Smaller instrument, focused sound. |
| Modern | Torres Guitar | 6 strings (Nylon) | Larger body, fan bracing, projection for concerts. |