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Musicians from Europe, Canada and across the U.S. will meet in Connecticut on October 8th & 9th for the 9th annual Harp Guitar Gathering. What’s a harp guitar?
Think of an acoustic guitar – either nylon or steel string - sitting on your lap. Between your chin and the guitar, half of a harp springs out from the top shoulder of the instrument. It's a sight to behold! There are no frets on the additional strings. They’re either plucked or resonate as you play, but they expand the instrument’s range down as low as a grand piano.
That’s Connecticut musician Stephen Bennett, who says Harp Guitars have been around for several hundred years, "because guitarists have always wanted more strings and guitar builders have been happy to oblige. They’re not so different from lutes."
...But not nearly as well known. Bennett and writer John Thomas are hosting this weekend’s Harp Guitar Gathering in Milford. Thomas says the unusual looking instrument attracts musicians who like to challenge convention.
"Folks who want to explore some sort of musical territory that they can’t with either the harp or the guitar. So they’ve found this synthesis – harp guitar - brings both colorful characters and produces really colorful music."
The event is called "Beyond Six Strings" and includes workshops and two concert performances.
