New York-based lute/guitar player Jerry Willard takes us on a masters tour of the development of the most popular stringed instrument in the world, starting in 16th Century Italy with several sumptuous pieces for Archlute. Next we hear the master J.S. Bach in six of his most popular lute pieces (including "Bouree" and "Gigue"). Willard then switches to Baroque guitar on 17th Century compositions by Gaspar Sanz, then a three movement sonata by Mauro Guliani is performed on 19th Century guitar. Willard uses a modern classical guitar to perform Catalan folk songs by Miquel Lloebet, and concludes with three arrangements of popular tunes by none other than the great George Gershwin, played on the modern guitar.