Lo que la lista de suscriptores nos cuentael Arte de tocar la guitarra española (1799) de Fernando Ferandiere como punto de partida para una historia social

Abstract

The subscriber’s list included by Fernando Ferandiere in his treatise on the Art of Playing the Spanish Guitar (1799) paradigmatically reflects a part of Spanish society at the end of the 18th century: a group that includes at the same time different social classes, such as the bourgeoisie (commercial and administrative), the clergy, the aristocracy and the military. It is this elitist minority that consumes the music composed for 6 course guitar. The idea of the Enlightenment (imitating nature, the usefulness of art) –an idea that manifests itself concretely in a written music where the melody predominates–, serves as a link between the agents of the group, between the subscribers who consume this type of music. The different tactics used by the agents to define themselves as enlightened are also analysed. The tertulia is the social space where people interact both physically and ideally, using strategies for the construction of identity. This is where music (for guitar) plays a substantial role.