Evening star., 1933-08-13

notably the Serenade," that the ac-
compartment was to be "a la guitarre" T"
The discovery Of his Guitar Quartet"
a few years ago was an event for music
lovers. Many of Bach's compositions
for the guitar, on which he was an
expert performer, have been Transcribed
tor violin. cello and piano, but are pub
llShed again In their original form.
Beethoven was the friend of many
wrote nothing himself for the guitar,
he approved the arrangements of his
compositions made for that instrument
by his guitarist friends. After listen
ing to what they had accomplished
with these arrangements he exclaimed
in admiration: "The guitar Is a minia-
ture orchestra in itself" BY means of
his little songs" for voice and guitar.
Berlioz was able to charm away the
respondent moods that afflicted Men
delssohn and turn his command of that
instrument to the more practical end
Of earning his living when thrown on
his own resources in Paris. To Carl
Won Werbef, the guitar was constant
companion and undoubtedly aided him
to social success. Boccherini, Gounod,
have given their best efforts to en-
large the guitar repertoire.
The story Of the guitar is romantic
the romance of history from the be-
ginning Of the world. The early form
of the guitar. the lutte, is mentioned
time and time again in Biblical his
tory as an important appendage of
the rhapsodists of that time. 1t was
known to the early Egyptians, for re-
productions Of an instrument similar
to the lutte have been found on several
obelisks, and its performers were &C
corded high honor by both the Egyp-
tians and the Hebrews to whom it
was necessary adjunct in their re-
ngiouS ceremonies.
During the golden era Of Athens,
playing on the guitar was esteemed q
high accomplishment and Socrates did
not disdain to study the instrument
when quite advanced in years nor the
famous Gen. Themistocles use 1t as q
means Of Turing the best society to pa
tronize the musical evenings at his
house. The early Christians praised
the Lord not only with singing, but
upon the cithara," the ancient name
for the guitar, and it was used in the
ceremonies of the church until the
seventeenth century. Nero, who fancied
himself as musician and saw to it that
he carried back to Rome 1900 prizes
in the musical contest Of the Olympian
games, also brought back many defeated
Athenian musicians. Among them was
the famous guitarist, Diodorus.
The older form Of the guitar, the
lutte, was the favorite instrument OF
Queen Elizabeth and both Chaucer and
Shakespeare mention it often in their
writings. The celebrated guitarist,
Corbetti, was accorded the honored po-
sition of court guitarist to the Duke
of Hanover and later to Louis XIV and
Charles H. Spain, where the peasants
recreation after a hard days toll Is
to play the guitar, has also produced
the greatest composer for the guitar,
Ferdinand Sor, and the greatest gui-
tarist of the present day, Segovia. Such
modern composers as Ravel, Stravinsky,
Roussel and Laparra have written ex-
tensively for the guitar.
It will be interesting to follow this
revival of the guitar. Our concert
programs are ever in need OF variety,
which the guitar could surely supply,
while the young musicians could make
use Of it to a worthier end than they
do at present. A more intimate knowl-
edge Of the inspiration of the great
masters could be had through the mu-
sic written for this instrument which
must carry q more personal touch than
their more pretentious compositions.
It IS to be hoped, now that serious con-
Germ has been awakened for the beau
ties of the guitar and its literature,
that every means will be used to fur
ther 1t and permit the music lovers to
have opportunities to become better
acquainted with 1t and thus furher
enrich their musical appreciation.