Renaissance Era Guitar History
c. 1400 CE - 1600 CE
The Renaissance period marked a significant evolution in the guitar's development. During this era, the instrument began to take a form more recognizable to modern eyes, though still distinct from today's guitars.
Key features of Renaissance guitars included:
- Four courses (pairs) of strings, later expanding to five
- A smaller body than modern guitars
- Gut strings and gut frets
- Elaborate decoration, especially on instruments for nobility
The Renaissance guitar (or "guitarra") coexisted with the vihuela in Spain and the lute across Europe, with each instrument having its own repertoire and playing techniques.
Key Developments
Four-Course Guitar
The four-course guitar became popular throughout Europe, particularly in Italy, France, and Spain, with each region developing its own variations.
Tablature Development
Various tablature systems were developed to notate guitar music, including Italian and French systems that allowed for the preservation and transmission of repertoire.
Relationship with Vihuela
In Spain, the guitar existed alongside the more prestigious vihuela, a similar instrument with more courses that was favored by the aristocracy.
Early Renaissance Guitar
The early Renaissance saw the continued development of the guitarra latina, which evolved into the four-course Renaissance guitar.
First Published Guitar Music
Luis de Milán publishes 'El Maestro,' which includes music for the vihuela, a close relative of the guitar popular in Spain.
Influential Publications
Several important books of guitar music are published, including works by Alonso Mudarra and Juan Bermudo.
Five-Course Guitar Emerges
Toward the end of the Renaissance, the five-course guitar begins to appear, setting the stage for the Baroque guitar.
Notable Renaissance Guitar Composers
Alonso Mudarra
Spanish composer and vihuelist (c.1510-1580)
Published "Tres Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela" (1546), which included pieces for the four-course guitar.
Guillaume de Morlaye
French composer and publisher (c.1510-c.1558)
Published several books of tablature for the four-course guitar, helping to establish its repertoire in France.
Adrian Le Roy
French composer and publisher (c.1520-1598)
Published numerous books of guitar tablature and was instrumental in popularizing the instrument at the French court.
Renaissance Guitar Music and Instruments
Replica of a four-course Renaissance guitar (c. 1550)
Page from a 16th-century guitar tablature manuscript
Painting depicting Renaissance court musicians with guitars (c. 1560)
Playing Techniques and Repertoire
Renaissance guitar playing techniques varied by region and over time. Early in the period, the instrument was often played with a plectrum, primarily for strumming chords to accompany songs. Later, finger-style playing became more common, allowing for more complex music.
The repertoire for Renaissance guitar included:
- Dance music (pavanes, galliards, branles)
- Song accompaniments
- Arrangements of popular tunes
- Some contrapuntal pieces, especially later in the period
While the guitar was generally considered less prestigious than the lute or vihuela, it was popular among the middle class and was often used for informal music-making.
The Guitar in Renaissance Society
During the Renaissance, the guitar occupied an interesting position in society. While the lute was favored by the aristocracy and professional musicians, the guitar was often associated with popular music and the middle class.
In Spain, the vihuela was the instrument of the nobility, while the guitar was more commonly played by the common people. However, by the late Renaissance, the guitar began to gain more acceptance in courtly circles, particularly in France and Italy.
The guitar's portability and relative simplicity compared to the lute made it popular for informal music-making, serenading, and dance accompaniment. It was also favored by women musicians, as depicted in various paintings from the period.
Transition to the Baroque Era
By the end of the Renaissance period, around 1600, the five-course guitar had become increasingly common. This instrument would become the standard form of the guitar in the Baroque era, with a rich repertoire and more complex playing techniques.
The transition from Renaissance to Baroque guitar was marked by changes in tuning, playing techniques, and musical style. The addition of the fifth course expanded the instrument's range and harmonic possibilities, setting the stage for the flourishing of guitar music in the 17th century.