As far as making the album goes, I was inspired to do it by my experience playing with the 97th Regimental Stringband. This is a trio based in Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg Florida which specializes in Civil War and Victorian era music. They perform concerts all over the US for various Civil War re-enactments, concerts, and so forth full time. Since I do some volunteer history interpreting at Fort Osage, outside of Kansas City, MO, I thought I'd try putting out a recording featuring musical selections that would have been current during Missouri's territorial days.There are quite a few re-enactor musicians around. And I decided I needed something that would set my recording apart from all the others. I noticed that practically all these groups were using contemporary instruments for the most part, the hammered dulcimer, penny whistle, and fiddle excepted. So I started doing my research and discovered the English Guittar, found a luthier who specialized in early instruments, and he agreed to build one.
I'm really interested in this instrument. It is so different than anything else I have ever played. And it is easy to see why it was such a popular parlour instrument during the last half of the 18th century. If anyone is interested in a short history of the instrument, I have a small write-up on my website. There is a musician in Scotland by the name of Rob MacKillop who is a very talented performer on the guittar. Check out his website too.
Jim