I forget now who directed me to this link, but as soon as I got there I heard a sound I have never heard in music, and I was intrigued. Today I ran across the info on what it was-- a Dolceola.

Listen to Washington Phillips, LIFT HIM UP, THAT'S ALL at The Roots Music Listening Room, to hear what I heard.

(BTW, it turns out that song is now out on Ralph Stanley's current CD.)

Washington Phillips' posthumous CD is at Amazon, with more tracks featuring the Dolceola, here: PLICK!

Info on Phillips and his Dolceola from Amazon.com:
Texas-born singer Washington Phillips did a limited amount of recording between his first sessions in 1927 and his last, which were completed in 1939, shortly before his death on New Year's Eve from tuberculosis. What little recording the unique solo gospel performer did can be found on this wondrous 16-track collection. Accompanying himself sensitively on the dolceola (a rare autoharp-like instrument) and singing with gentle resolve, Phillips created serene music that really did feel like it was touched by grace. Early in his career Ry Cooder revived a couple of Phillips's best numbers ("Denomination Blues" and "Tattler"), but he's largely a forgotten figure these days. I Am Born to Preach the Gospel makes that seem like an unpardonable sin. --Steven Stolder

Further info on his playing style at Amazon: What makes Phillips even more unique is that he plays this Germanic Zither-ish---Harp in a Box---by taking the little harpie's chordal construction apart and playing it with his fingers...

More on the Dolceola from Amazon's comment on Yazoo's liner notes: ...one of the rarest string instruments the world has ever known, of which there are about 14 still existing in the world: a Dolceola: "A miniature grande piano" says an old advertisement Yazoo has included in the liner notes...

OK! So who's got one?

~Susan