"The Guitar in Tudor London", Prof. Christopher Page (U of Cambridge) [2017]. Describes first references to guitars in England in writing and art. Replicas are played. #history #music #lecture

Original Description:

Few people now remember that the guitar was popular in England during the age of Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare, and yet it was played everywhere from the royal court to the common tavern.

In 1559 Queen Elizabeth herself received a case of three guitars as a New-Year’s day present.

This opening lecture of the series, with musical illustrations, uses documents, poetry and images to bring the instrument to life, with a particular focus on the autobiography of the beguiling Tudor musician Thomas Whythorne.