NEW YORK—The Met currently holds a very unique exhibition: Guitar Heroes. It features some of the most beautiful instruments, approximately 80 in number, made by three modern-day guitar luthiers of Italian origin in the New York area—John D’Angelico, James D’Aquisto, and John Monteleone.
Instruments by these makers were played by some of the most influential guitarists and singers of the present day, such as Chet Atkins, Les Paul, George Benson, Paul Simon, Steve Miller, Mark Knopfler, and Grant Green, to name a few, according to a Met’s news release.
The guitars are exhibited together with the Met’s impressive collection of ancient instruments that include some of the famous Stradivari violins and guitars, Andrea Amati and Guiseppe Gagliano violins, baroque-style guitars, harp guitars, and lutes made by legendary instrument makers from Europe.
In an amusing experience, the museum provides free iTunes applications for iPods to guide the visitor through the exhibition, giving actual samples of the instruments to make the experience complete. It is a real treat.
In addition, gallery concerts are held every other Thursday at which musicians such as Woody Mann, Don DeMarco, Carl Barry, Jeffrey Mironov, Steve Miller, and Bucky and John Pizzarelli perform on the instruments made by one of these three makers.
The curator of the exhibition, Jason Kerr Dobney, expressed his enthusiasm for this rare type of exhibition.
“What intrigued me the most about this [exhibit] is that there are so many musicians in New York that know these luthiers or have played their instruments, which makes it come alive, as you are not only seeing the instruments and have a real experience of them, but also there is a social and cultural aspect about it,” said Dobney.
“We have this great collection of old instruments like violins from Stradivari, lutes, and such, so it really made sense to me to present this tradition in New York along with our older instrument collection,” Dobney said.
“It was a lot of fun getting the collection together. It consisted of going to concerts, meeting the players, asking around in the guitar world and things like that,” Dobney said. “What was also really nice is that the musicians were really excited about the story and even honored present[ing] these instruments, and some guitar collectors were enthusiastic as well.”
Instruments by these makers were played by some of the most influential guitarists and singers of the present day, such as Chet Atkins, Les Paul, George Benson, Paul Simon, Steve Miller, Mark Knopfler, and Grant Green, to name a few, according to a Met’s news release.
The guitars are exhibited together with the Met’s impressive collection of ancient instruments that include some of the famous Stradivari violins and guitars, Andrea Amati and Guiseppe Gagliano violins, baroque-style guitars, harp guitars, and lutes made by legendary instrument makers from Europe.
In an amusing experience, the museum provides free iTunes applications for iPods to guide the visitor through the exhibition, giving actual samples of the instruments to make the experience complete. It is a real treat.
In addition, gallery concerts are held every other Thursday at which musicians such as Woody Mann, Don DeMarco, Carl Barry, Jeffrey Mironov, Steve Miller, and Bucky and John Pizzarelli perform on the instruments made by one of these three makers.
The curator of the exhibition, Jason Kerr Dobney, expressed his enthusiasm for this rare type of exhibition.
“What intrigued me the most about this [exhibit] is that there are so many musicians in New York that know these luthiers or have played their instruments, which makes it come alive, as you are not only seeing the instruments and have a real experience of them, but also there is a social and cultural aspect about it,” said Dobney.
“We have this great collection of old instruments like violins from Stradivari, lutes, and such, so it really made sense to me to present this tradition in New York along with our older instrument collection,” Dobney said.
“It was a lot of fun getting the collection together. It consisted of going to concerts, meeting the players, asking around in the guitar world and things like that,” Dobney said. “What was also really nice is that the musicians were really excited about the story and even honored present[ing] these instruments, and some guitar collectors were enthusiastic as well.”
“Mostly these beautiful archtop guitars are played within the world of jazz guitar, but some artists are also taking … [them to] other directions, and we are trying to support that too,” Dobney said.
About the Guitar Makers
Italian luthiers and their work were very famous since the 16th century, and by the 18th century, Naples had become a center for stringed instruments production.
Later, at the turn of the 20th century, many skilled luthiers from southern Italy moved to New York and set up their workshops around the region, building guitars, violins, and especially mandolins, which were very popular at that time.
In the 1920s, many luthiers were forced out of business due to the changes in the world of popular music.
John D’Angelico (1905–1964) made a transition to archtop guitars, which combined elements of violin construction with the guitar (carved top, f-holes). These guitars were based on the models produced by Gibson Guitar Company and were very popular with jazz musicians before the electric guitar.
John D’Angelico became well-known for his beautifully constructed guitars, and the tradition was later carried forward by his apprentice James D’Aquisto (1935–1995) and continues today with the famous guitar and mandolin maker John Monteleone (born 1947).
This wonderful exhibition will be held at the Met until July 4.
For more information about the exhibit and upcoming performances, please visit the Met’s Web page at www.Metmuseum.org.
Later, at the turn of the 20th century, many skilled luthiers from southern Italy moved to New York and set up their workshops around the region, building guitars, violins, and especially mandolins, which were very popular at that time.
In the 1920s, many luthiers were forced out of business due to the changes in the world of popular music.
John D’Angelico (1905–1964) made a transition to archtop guitars, which combined elements of violin construction with the guitar (carved top, f-holes). These guitars were based on the models produced by Gibson Guitar Company and were very popular with jazz musicians before the electric guitar.
John D’Angelico became well-known for his beautifully constructed guitars, and the tradition was later carried forward by his apprentice James D’Aquisto (1935–1995) and continues today with the famous guitar and mandolin maker John Monteleone (born 1947).
This wonderful exhibition will be held at the Met until July 4.
For more information about the exhibit and upcoming performances, please visit the Met’s Web page at www.Metmuseum.org.
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