From Gaspar Sanz' "MUSICAL INSTRUCTION ON THE SPANISH GUITAR"
published in 1674
The Italians, French, and people of other nations classify
the guitar as Spanish". The reason is that in ancient times it used
to have no more than four strings, and then in Madrid, Maestro Espinel,
a Spaniard, added a fifth to it, and thereby it's perfection was attained.
The French, Italians, and people of other nations, in imitation of us,
also added the fifth course to their guitar, and therefore they call
it the "Spanish guitar". Others have discussed the perfection of this
instrument, some saying that the guitar is a perfect instrument, and
others that it is not. I take the middle way, and declare that it is
neither perfect, nor imperfect, but what you make it, since the fault
or imperfection is in him who plays it and not in the instrument itself;
for on one single string without frets I have seen many feats performed
for which others would require the registers of an organ. Therefore,
each player must make the guitar either good or bad, since it is like
a lady, but to whom the saying "look at me but do not touch me" does
not apply, and its rose is quite different from a real rose, since it
will not wither however much it is touched with the hands, and moreover,
if it is plucked by the hands of a skilled master, it will produce in
them an ever-new bouquet which delight the ear with their sonorous fragrances.
Composers: track 1 - Sanz / 2 - Gerau
/ 3, 4, 5, 6 - Roncalli / 7, 8 - Corbetta / 9, 10, 11,
12 - Anon. 13, 14, 15 - De Visee / 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 - Calvi
/ 21, 22 - DeMurcia / 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 - Sanz
five-course guitar by Michael Schreiner 1995,
after a 17th cent. Italian model
recorded live November 19 and 26, 2002 at Land Otter Studios
cover painting by Watteau
