The 2^nd International 10-String Guitar Festival
by Stephen Rekas


The 2nd International 10-string Guitar Festival featured workshops on such diverse topics as nail care and homeopathic medicine. Here, Janet Marlow demonstrates her concept of proper nail shape. The guitar shown is by Paulino Bernabé of Madrid.

Narciso Yepes protégé Janet Marlow staged the 2nd International 10-String Guitar Festival at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut July 6-9. Appropriately, the festival's theme was "The Ten-String Guitarist: Musician, Historian, Composer, Arranger, Improviser". A variety of informative workshops addressed these topics and more, and two public concerts at the university's Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts offered a wealth of rarely-heard music.

At first, Janet presented an overview of 10-string techniques, history, and tunings ideal for the novice 10-string player.	With the aid of a translator, Pascal Boëls offered valuable insights regarding 18th century ornamentation.

During the course of the two concerts, Janet Marlow and Frenchman Pascal Boëls performed on 10-string classic guitars, Dennis Cinelli played an authentic early guitar and a reproduction of a Romantic10-string with four bass strings over a second neck, Steve Adelson performed on the12-string Grand Chapman Stick, and Michele Ramo played a modern hybrid 8-string guitar with two additional fretless bass strings. In concerts, Janet's husband, Alan Brennan, performed smooth and Gypsy jazz selections on the violin, ably displaying his prowess but also the accompaniment capabilities of the 10-string guitar.

Ever the perfectly composed hostess and performer, Janet acted as MC for both evening performances.	Steve Adelson and his 12-string Grand Chapman Stick prompted one captivated audience member to call out, "How do you do that?"
Multi-instrumentalist Dennis Cinelli presented a workshop on the evolution of the 10-string guitar and performed on an authentic 19th century instrument. Here, Dennis Cinelli performs on a replica of an 1850s J. G. Scherzer (Vienna) Romantic 10-string guitar.	Mel Bay author Michéle Ramo with his amazing hybrid guitar featuring two additional fretless bass strings, stereo outs, dual channel graphic equalizers and MIDI capability. With this instrument, Michéle creates amazingly full arrangements of swing and jazz favorites plus his own engaging compositions.
Pascal Boëls in concert	Luthier Michael McBroom shares his insights about building the Janet Marlow Signature Entry model which Janet confidently used in her July 8 performance.

In addition to workshops given by each of the concert performers, luthier Michael McBroom gave an overview of the construction of the 10-string guitar, and Joe Carter (Guitar Department Head at Sacred Heart University) spoke on accompaniment of various styles of Brazilian music. Grammy Award winning cellist David Darling gave an inspiring hands-on improvisation workshop, and Dr. Keith Zeitlin, a naturopathic physician presented an astonishing lecture focusing on alternative preventive rather than curative measures followed by individualized consultation for each attendee.

After a brief introduction of his approach to improvisation, cellist David Darling got everyone into the act in groups of four with surprisingly immediate results.	Dr. Keith Zeitlin, Homeopathic Physician, explained how we might all change our lives for the better by practicing better dietary and other preventive measures rather than assuming that curative procedures and medications are the only way to better health. For many attendees, his presentation was one of the highlights of the conference.

Alan Brennan and Janet Marlow closed the July 7 and 8 programs with breezy swing renditions of favorite tunes.

Woefully under-attended the 2nd 10-String Festival was absolutely world-class in format and flawless in its organization and execution. It would be natural to ask, "How many 10-string guitarists can there be in the world?" According to Janet- around 500, 240 of whom have purchased her self-published method, The 10-String Guitar: An Approach Guide for Guitarists with DVD. If that's the case, then 493 of you missed an excellent opportunity to meet your colleagues and share information about your instrument's construction, repertoire, history, evolution and future.

To learn more about Janet Marlow and the world of the 10-string guitar please see: www.tenstringguitar.com