Beyond Six Strings

Stephen Bennett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Harp Guitar Music
• ASIN: B000I6B83Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,574 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars + 1/2 stars...Wonderful Collection of Harp Guitar Instrumentals, September 3, 2007

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Six Strings (Audio CD)

As a longtime fan of the late Michael Hedges, I was first introduced to the haunting quality of the harp guitar on his 1987 album LIVE ON THE DOUBLE PLANET. And then a couple of weeks ago, NPR did a piece on "Weekend Edition" that rekindled my interest in the instrument.

During the program, the host jokingly referred to the instrument as a "combination guitar and wooden shoulder-mounted grenade launcher." However, harp guitar enthusiast Greg Miner (who co-produced this album and contributes the track "Deserted Island," performing on a 1899 Knutsen) provided an informative history of this fascinating instrument. According to Miner, the harp guitar dates back to 1650 in Europe, and began to flourish in the United States around 1890. [Note: See harpguitars.net for more information.]

BEYOND SIX STRINGS presents thirteen tracks from thirteen different artists. Standout tracks are the delicate "Heavenly Earth Dance," with Iwan Hasan's 21-string John Sullivan guitar sounding at times like a hammer dulcimer and at others like a standard harp; and the nod to the genius of fingerpicker John Fahey on the gorgeous "In John Fahey There Is No East or West" (a rewording of one of his signature songs "In Christ There Is No East or West"). I have long been a fan of acoustic guitar players from Leo Kottke to Doc Watson. What this album did was open my ears to a whole new kind of acoustic music. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED