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The Instruments
The 11 String Arch Guitar: James was first introduced to the 11 string arch guitar by the instrument's innovator, Peter Blanchette. Seduced by the instrument's sweetness of sound and wide range of possibilities, he has redesigned it to suit his needs. The result is a combination of lutes and guitars from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, an instrument ideally suited to, but not confined to, the performance of early music.
The 19 String Arch Harp Guitar: This unusual instrument, invented by James, combines the best qualities of guitar, lute,l and Celtic harp. The harp attaches to the 11 string arch guitar, and has 8 open strings tuned chromatically with harp-style levers that change the pitch half a tone. All of the 19 total strings are played, rather than being for sympathetic ringing. James' Arch Harp Guitar was built by Alan Perlman of San Francisco, California, www.perlmanguitars.com
The Nyckelharpa is a traditional instrument form Sweden, thought to be an adaptation of the hurdy-gurdy. It is played with a bow, for a more refined sound than it's medevial ancestor. Of the 16 strings, four are bowed and the others are paired to create sympathetic harmony with a magic cathedral-like resonance. Mariusz' nyckelharpa was built by Harry Hedbom of Sweden.
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