The importance of guitar handbooks by Georgije Milanovich and Ivan padovec in music education and methodology of guitar teaching in South Slavic region

Abstract

In the fourth decade of the 19th century, for the first time in the South Slavic region, two handbooks, two guitar schools appeared - Georgije Milanovich's publication in manuscript in Serbia, and the printed publication by the Croatian composer Ivan Padovec published in Vienna. It has been determined by comparative analysis of the handbooks that they both contain the basic methodological instructions for learning the techniques of playing in the manner of European printed guitar handbooks of the time. The basic theoretical terms in the area of melody, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, agogics and embellishments are explained, thus they also represent handbooks of music theory for amateur musicians. The examples intended for the technical improvement of playing the instrument have melodic and harmonic characteristics of the classical harmonic style in the keys suitable for playing on the guitar. In the historical context, the two handbooks represent the early beginnings of guitar teaching methods in the South Slavic region.