June 18, 2007
Guitar – The Universal Connector?… Ahem!
While I agree with what you are saying above, I would also like to say that localized, ‘native’ musical cultures have not gone extinct yet. I myself am an avid fan of the guitar, and yet I would venture forth to say that while it could be a very popular musical instrument, it is bunkum when you say it is the single biggest musical connector in the world today.
Even today, localized, country-specific musical cultures are flourishing all over. One only has to take a look at the different music festivals organized by the different governments, and even by private organizations (though many of these private dos end up propagating western musical influences). Every government today has a department or division that recognizes the threat of their local musical culture being marginalized or made extinct, and therefore organizes events in different countries to promote these cultures.
I would say along with that, there is a larger need to increase awareness among the local populace about the importance of their own musical roots. So while the guitar is becoming one of the most popular musical instruments, it is wise for it to be able to learn to co-exist with other instruments. And I do not foresee this as being a problem, because music is not about domination or ego, it should not be. It should be about sharing expressions and experiences with fellow human beings.
