|
The "Orkney Tuning"
The Orkney tuning, oddly enough, has nothing specifically to do
with the Orkney Islands. The C-G-D-G-C-D (going low to high
strings) is so described "Orkney" because its promoter, Steve
Baughman, inferred a Scottish feel to its deep, textural sensibility.
According to Baughman (who discovered the tuning through
independent experimentation in 1987) Martin Simpson, Brian
Gore and Tony McManus use it, as well as Baughman himself,
a fine guitarist and renditioner in a genuinely traditional mode.
About this recording
This is, in no uncertain technological terms, is a hybrid project.
Space and economy suggested using a Fishman pickup... off a
vintage Harmony Sovereign acoustic (built no earlier than the mid-
1960's). The signal was then boosted via an "A.R.T" tube preamp
into a modest SoundBlaster PC 128 card. Mastering was done at
Muscletone Studios in Berkeley, California under the astute
scrutiny of Derek Bianchi.
Listen now to a selection from the
"Orkney Serenade"
|
