Formation of the Ukrainian Guitar School in the Context of the Development of European Guitar Art

The purpose of this study is to examine the main trends in the establishment and development of national guitar schools in European countries and Ukraine. It attempts to present certain general historical characteristics of the process in different countries, as well as to identify famous composer-guitarists and pedagogues who have made an important contribution to the development of modern guitar art. The research methodology includes the principles of systematisation and generalisation, analytical, historical, and comparative methods. It enables the analysis and systematisation of existing scientific studies on the subject, comparison and synthesis of formation processes, development trends, and characteristics of national guitar schools in Europe and Ukraine. The innovation of the study is in the identification and emphasis on peculiarities of formation and development of national guitar schools in Ukraine and European countries. Conclusions. Ukrainian guitar performance is characterised by special historical conditions and a vibrant national character. Today, there are certain national guitar schools in Ukraine, for example, the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Dnipro schools. Performers and teachers of these schools have used the world professional performance traditions and added national colour to them. In all national schools, the guitar gradually developed from a folk instrument into an academic concert instrument with established performance standards. This led to an increasingly complex repertoire and the production of avant-garde compositions. There is a tendency towards the recognition of the guitar as a multifunctional and independent musical instrument. Every European country now has its own national guitar school, and the guitar is one of the most widespread and popular instruments in the world.