The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar

From the first mention in courtly poetry of the thirteenth century to enormous global popularity in the twentieth, the guitar and its development comprises multiple histories, each characterised by distinct styles, playing techniques, repertories and socio-cultural roles. These histories simultaneously span popular and classical styles, contemporary and historical practices, written and unwritten traditions and western and non-western cultures. This is the first book to encompass the breadth and depth of guitar performance, featuring thirteen essays covering different traditions, styles, and instruments, written by some of the most influential players, teachers, and guitar historians in the world. The coverage of the book allows the player to understand both the analogies and differences between guitar traditions, and all styles, from baroque, classical, country, blues, and rock to flamenco, African, Celtic, and instrument making will share the same platform. As musical training is increasingly broadened this comprehensive book will become an indispensable resource.

- Covers western and world traditions, popular and classical styles
- Integrates technical information with the cultural history of the guitar
- Contains authoritative but accessible essays which require no formal training in music

CONTENIDO:

Part I. New Guitar Histories and World Traditions:
1. Picking through cultures: a guitarist's music history (Victor Anand Coelho)
2. Flamenco guitar: history, style, status (Peter Manuel)
3. The Celtic guitar: crossing cultural boundaries in the twentieth century (Chris Smith)
4. African reinventions of the guitar (Banning Eyre)

Part II. Roots and Rock:
5. The guitar in jazz (Graeme Boone)
6. A century of blues guitar (Jas Obrecht)
7. Rock guitar from the 1950s to the 1970s: the turn to noise (Steve Waksman)
8. Rock guitar since 1980: contesting virtuosity (Steve Waksman)
9. The guitar in country music (Gordon Ross)

Part III. Baroque and Classical Guitar Today:
10. Radical innovations, social revolution, and the Baroque guitar (Craig Russell)
11. The revival of the classical guitar in the twentieth century (David Tanenbaum)
12. Stradivari and Baroque guitar construction (Stewart Pollens)
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