Click to play Flash movie: "A Brief and Incomplete History of the Archguitar"
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| Above: Drawing of a large 16th century Vihuela, known a the "Guadalupe" vihuela, (due to a marking on a later marking). This instrument is from the collection of the Musée Jaquemart-André,in Paris. Though the instrument's design is utterly sublime in all respects, it was the shape that particularly attracted Blanchette and Stanul for the design of the 9, 11, 12 and 13-string Stanul archguitars of the 1980s and 1990s. Read more about Vihuelas at the excellent website: www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/cat12.htm |
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Peter Blanchette, right, with friend and collaborator violinist Kenny Butler.
This photo gives a sense of the archguitar's relative size. |
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Left: this detail from an engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi, (Italy), made before 1510. Note the player's use of his instrument case as a footrest. Also, unlike modern classical guitarists, he sets the instrument on his right leg, as opposed to his left. Players in these time often used straps as well. Stanul and Blanchette, having never been rigid about playing posture, also use straps on the archguitar. |
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Above: in the right hand, a Liuto Attiorbato, used for continuo playing,
in the left hand, the 1981 "Rock Steady" 11-string archguitar. |
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