The guitar is a string instrument whose sound is obtained by plucking or strumming its strings. Since the Middle Ages, several plucked string instruments have appeared in texts and illustrations, but nothing that directly refers to the guitar. Despite several theories, there is still no consensus on the origin of the instrument. In the 14th century, two instruments very similar to the guitar played in Europe: the Moorish guitar and the Baroque guitar. In the 18th century, the guitar appeared, also called at the time, in Portuguese, “viola de seis ordens”, “viola francesa”, “guitarra franceza” and as it is known today “violão” (large guitar). The modern classical guitar traditionally has six strings (and can have up to 12 strings). It consists of a wooden soundboard in the shape of the number ‘eight’, a wooden soundboard, a rounded rosette (soundhole), curved sidewalls, and a flat back. The standard tuning is: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4.
This guitar, which has a cedar top and resin tuning pegs and is part of the collection of the Instituto Moreira Salles – IMS, belonged to Baden Powell de Aquino (Varre-Sai, 1937 – Rio de Janeiro, 2000). Gifted to Baden Powell by luthier Anibal J. Crespo in 1995, he used the instrument towards the end of his career, including in the last album he recorded, “Lembranças”, in 2000, the year he passed away.
To learn even more, visit Baden Powell’s website on the IMS domain:
Baden Powell