Christopher Page
https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectur
When the most famous diarist in English, Samuel Pepys, accompanied Charles II back to London for the Restoration of the monarchy he was given the task of carrying the king’s guitar. From this moment on, the instrument had a the royal seal of approval and some of the best guitar playing in Europe was heard at Whitehall. Court ladies had themselves portrayed with a guitar on their lap like a musical pet; actors and actresses played them in comedies and guitar-masters made a living teaching the daughters of London barmaids.
Gresham College was founded in 1597 and has been providing free lectures within the City of London for over 400 years. This is part of the series: For Courtesan, Queen and Gallant: The Guitar in England from Henry VIII to Samuel Pepys
