The Idiom of the Classical Guitar: Analysing the Concept in Relation to the Challenges of Contemporary Repertoire
The Idiom of the Classical Guitar: Analysing the Concept in Relation to the Challenges of Contemporary Repertoire

Summary/Abstract: The term ‘idiom of the classical guitar’ is frequently used to intuitively identify the set of char-acteristics associated with this instrument. It serves as a cognitive shortcut, referencing the par-ticulars of the instrument in general. In this context, intuition frequently leads to the explorationof Iberian roots and Latin American popular music. However, each period has seen new advancesin performance technique and perception of the instrument, which have broadened the definitionof the idiom. Contemporary compositions demand a continual reassessment of what is perceivedas ‘natural’ and therefore suitable for performance on the guitar. This article presents a historicalaccount of the formation of the term guitar idiom, offers a critical analysis of the various interpre-tations of its meaning, identifies the essential criteria for defining a composition as idiomatic, de-velops a comprehensive definition of idiomaticity, and addresses the question of whether, in viewof the incompatibility of interpretations and the ongoing expansion of the semantic framework ofthe guitar idiom, its use should be abandoned. In order to achieve this objective, the article presents the perspectives of modern scholars and artists in juxtaposition with an analysis of recentmusical compositions that represent significant milestones in the evolution of the guitar’s idio-matic potential.

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