History, Part 9
The guitar in Belgium and Holland
Belgium, produced a number of fine guitarists among whom was François Le Cocq, a violonist with the Brussels Court Orchestra. He wrote numerous guitar works in French tablature (Recueil de pièces de guitare). Later, he published an anthology of guitar music by seventeenth century masters.
In Holland, the Cuypers family of renowned instruments makers was also making guitars. They became a flourishing house with representatives at The Hague and Amsterdam.
The guitar in Eastern Europe
The interest shown in the guitar in the northern countries was equaled to that in the countries of the eastern part such as Bohemia, Czechoslovakia and Russia. Johann Baptist Wanhall (1739-1813), a Bohemian, composed for chamber ensemble which included the guitar.
In Czechoslovakia, the tradition of guitar playing continued to be reaffirmed by composers like Heinrich Dringeles and by guitar makers like Jean Bourgard, who worked in Prague, producing, in addition to guitars, mandolins, basses, lutes, English guitars and a "mechanical guitar".
In the late eighteenth century, the guitar began to establish itself firmly in Russia. The pioneers in guitar building began their work in that time. One of these was Ivan Andreyevitch Batov. His workshop was establish in Ulm in 1780. From it flowered a variety of musical instruments including guitars, balalaikas, violins and cellos.
