The classical guitar throughout history
In the 13th century, Alfonso X the Wise recorded two types of guitar: the Moorish guitar and the Latin guitar. Two instruments were directly derived from the latter: the vihuela, very popular in Iberian court circles, and the guitar itself, which was more commonly used as an accompanying instrument among the common people. Music was gradually composed for the guitar, and the instrument was refined in the 16th century when a fifth string was added, a feat attributed to the musician Vicente Espinel. During the 17th century, the guitar gained popularity in European courts, even in the Iberian Peninsula, where the vihuela had predominated until then. The first great instrumentalists appeared, such as Luis de Briceño, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and Francesco Corbetta. Throughout the 18th century, technical improvements were made, such as the addition of the sixth string, which brought the guitar of that time closer to what it is today. The contemporary era witnessed the worldwide popularization of the guitar. Its validity as a concert instrument was finally recognized; the acoustic guitar was created in the United States, and Spain experienced its golden age with composers such as Albéniz, Falla, and Rodrigo. Today, more and more young people are taking up the guitar thanks to the undeniable appeal of this instrument and the music it produces. A true acoustic delight for the senses.
