Notes for a History of Insular and Peninsular Violas / Guitars

Abstract

This article deals with a critical view on peninsular and insular history in relation to plucked chordophones, especially focused on the terms viola and guitar and others derived from the Greek kithara and on the instruments denominated Spanish guitar, Portuguese guitar, English guitar and French viola. Finally, the Madeira island manuscripts for French viola
are related to the recent studies on viola/guitar in Galicia and a brief presentation of the Galician viola/guitar musical
backgrounds of the first half of the 19th century. Much of the information belongs to my thesis The guitar in Galicia (USC)
currently being written.