‘Yet another guitar recital filled the Wigmore Hall’: The Popularization of the Classical Guitar in Britain, c.1950–c.1970

The popularity of the classical guitar in Britain surged between 1950 and 1970. The virtuosity of elite professionals led by the pioneering Andrés Segovia and the new stars Julian Bream and John Williams earned the classical instrument considerable purchase within the wider culture. Above all, it in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the Royal Musical Association Vol. 146; no. 2; pp. 335 - 365
Main Author Russell, Dave
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.11.2021
Subjects
20th century
Classical guitar music
Culture
Musical performances
Popularity
United Kingdom > UK
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Summary:The popularity of the classical guitar in Britain surged between 1950 and 1970. The virtuosity of elite professionals led by the pioneering Andrés Segovia and the new stars Julian Bream and John Williams earned the classical instrument considerable purchase within the wider culture. Above all, it inspired thousands of largely middle-class, male, relatively young and urban amateur players, attracted not simply by the instrument’s intrinsic appeal but also by the opportunity offered to display a fashionable modernity and sophisticated connoisseurship. However, although securing for the classical guitar a much-enhanced musical role, these enthusiasts also created an often inward-looking specialist culture.
ISSN:0269-0403
1471-6933
DOI:10.1017/rma.2021.14