This work is born from the observation that France, for two centuries, from the mid-17th to the mid-19th, was at the forefront of everything related to the guitar. It was here that the instrument, along with all the associated cultural and economic activities, developed with the greatest consistency. It was also here that the guitar underwent, at the same time as it did in Naples, its first major revolution: the transition to single strings.
Of course, this role as the epicentre of all guitaristic activity – one that the neologism guitaromanie ultima-tely fails to capture – was often shared: sometimes with an entire nation (the Spanish one), at other times with European metropolises (Naples, Vienna and London). But nowhere else was this much music for the guitar written, published and played, nowhere else were this many pedagogical works for it published, and nowhere else – possibly with the exception of Spain – were this many craftsmen and inventors devoted to it. Often at a loss, occasionally with profit, but always with passion. That is one of the lessons to be drawn from the approximately 300 individual stories of instrument makers, inventors, and specialised merchants gathered in this book.
A book by Catherine Marlat and Erik Pierre Hofmann.
- 384 pages
- 282 short biographies of 308 string instrument makers and dynasties, specialised merchants and patent holders
- 284 full colour reproductions of original labels, iron brands and signatures
- Comprehensive index with 438 names, including those of journeymen and apprentices
- 2 languages: English/French
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