Yablokov M.S. – “Classic guitar in Russia and the USSR” (1992)
Russian Guitar
After recently acquiring a Russian guitar I’ve gone through a number of pedagogic resources to find those that might help others interested in learning this instrument. (Updated 3/18/2019)
(more…)Napoléon Coste: Composer and Guitarist in the Musical Life of 19th-Century Paris
The latest publication from DGA Editions is now available! This is an updated version of the biography from Ari van Vliet’s two-volume dissertation on Coste. It includes many edits, improved photos and some additional information. The print edition includes the same CD that was available with the dissertation. There is a digital edition available which does not include CD, but it can be purchased separately from CD Baby.
(more…)Le Donne e La Chitarra
Guitar Music by 19th Century Women Composers
(more…)Morishige Takei films
Morishige Takei was a lover of film in addition to the guitar and mandolin. He entered several film competitions, although I don’t currently have much details about his film work other than the films I was allowed to copy from his daughter in 1997. I have uploaded all of them to YouTube. I believe these were all taken in the 1930’s.
(more…)The Takei Collection and a Brief History of Morishige Takei
During recent discussions with the Kunitachi College of Music (Tokyo) librarians I learned they plan to catalog the Takei Collection and post the list on their website. I don’t know the schedule for their plans, but it is good to know it is in progress. I visited the library with Jun Sugawara sometime in 1996-97 with only a short list in hand and I was not allowed to see the collection directly. I have a number of articles on the collection published around the time it was given to Kunitachi and when I have time I’ll post translations. (more…)
Regondi guitar in Japan, 1926
I originally wrote in 1997 about the guitars purchased in 1926 by Japanese collectors from Philip Bone, but never shared a copy of the original letter received from Bone listed details on the guitars. I stumbled across my correspondence with Nakano recently and realized he had sent me a copy of the letter. Here it is! (more…)
Mertz manuscripts and instruments for sale (1856-57)
On November 6th, 1856, less than a month after the death of J. K. Mertz on October 14th, his manuscripts and instruments were put up for sale. (more…)
Der Guitarrefreund
The German guitar journal published by the Gitarristischen Vereinigung in Munich from 1900 to 1931 was known for the first few issues just as “Mitteilungen des Internationalen Guitarristen–Verbands (e.V.)” but then soon gained the name “Der Guitarrefreund.” In 1910 it was changed to “Der Gitarrefreund.”