ABSTRACT
The guitar is the object of a vast number of dedicated corporate industries and retail trades, is an icon of popular culture in sound and image. A part of global media and developments in advanced technology, and has wide appeal musically and culturally across the planet. The guitar is clearly much more than a trivial pursuit or casual leisure-time interest for the very many people who make it or play it, but also for those who do neither but appreciate its value in numerous ways. When discussing the guitar phenomenon, one quickly finds oneself referring to the work of individual guitarists, whether part of supergroups or solo artists who sometimes work with small ensembles. The ninth New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes College was held in July 2009, with the theme of 'New York/New World: Guitar in the Americas'. African guitarists played the 'Guitars for Africa' concert in New York.
