Musicmember

The Origins of the Russian 7-string Guitar.

The guitar probably originated in Spain early in the 16th century, derived from the guitarra latina, a late-medieval instrument with a waisted body and four strings. The early guitar body was narrower and deeper than the modern guitar, with a less pronounced waist (Britannica.com) and had 5 strings, tuned ADGBE. It was a folk/flamenco instrument which from the outset attracted some serious composers, like Gaspar Sanz, Robert de Visee, and Luis Milan.

At the end of the 18th century, extra strings were added, and its history burgeoned, and forked.

In Spain it acquired a sixth string, the low E, becoming essentially the modern Western instrument, tuned mainly in fourths, EADGBE. and this greatly enhanced instrument began to attract many more serious classical composers, such as Luigi Boccherini, Niccolò Paganini and Ferdinand Sor.

At the same time, in Russia, the guitar acquired TWO extra strings, clustered round the central DGB, but re-tumed, mainly in thirds, to a G-major chord, DGBDGBD. Right from its invention, the Russian Guitar, like its Spanish brother, attracted serious classical composers, acquiring a huge high quality repertoire, which is, however, almost totally unknown in the West.

There is a splendid MASSIVE compilation on Youtube, of Russian Guitar music, uploaded last October. It lasts OVER SEVEN HOURS, but is indexed and items can be played individually... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTdPizz7Dic

The Canterbury Guitar Society meets monthly from September to July at the Friends Meeting House, 6 The Friars, Canterbury on third Mondays (not August) at 7.30pm.

We welcome (classical) players of all standards, visitors are welcome to attend 2 meetings free to see if they would like to join us.

Twice a year, we have public professional concerts of a very high standard and a growing reputation locally, the other meetings we perform to and learn from each other. We have gradually built up a reputation and are having to turn down world class performers.

Click here for photos of previous performers.

CGS Performers

Our last 8 concerts were - Gaëlle Solal, Fabio Zanon, Fernando Espi, Antigoni Goni, Jan Depreter, Giacomo Susani, Sean Shibe, Giacomo Susani, Emre Gökalp & Laura Snowden (June this year).