While many people avidly follow the world of classical music – orchestral, chamber music, opera – the classical guitar is an instrument that can remain a mystery. Aside from a handful of pieces and famous performers, the repertoire and its players often live and work in a parallel musical world. With music that stretches back over three centuries, the guitar has a rich history that is well worth getting to know. The course will focus on this music, history, and significant performers.

Each meeting will cover the composers who developed the repertoire, moving in chronological order beginning around 1820 and moving to the present day. The solo repertoire will be explored, as well as the development of multiple guitars (duos, quartets), and concertos for guitar and orchestra. Emphasis will be placed on putting this music in context with the wider world of classical/concert music.

Format: Participants will present on either a composer or a performer with a brief biography, along with a few examples of signature works and/or performances. For any presentation, no previous musical experience is required. At the end of each session, a playlist of representative works of the composer(s) presented will be sent out. The beginning of each class will include time for discussion/reaction to the previous week’s works. At the beginning of the course a list of upcoming guitar events will be sent around so participants, who wish, can see and hear the guitar in a live setting.

Resources/Expenses: YouTube, Soundcloud (free).

Coordinator: Ronald Pearl is a classical guitarist and composer with over forty years of professional activity. He was a professor of music at Loyola University Maryland, where he taught for 25 years. He has coordinated six courses for LLC.

Photo credit: Jefferson Santos | Unsplash