Album Notes

Here is an excerpt from the August issue of Music Row magazine: "CDs have fairly poured in over the last couple of weeks, but only a few really grabbed me. One is "Transluscent Harp" from Tom Shinness. Shinness plays the bejeebers out of a number of unusual instruments; notably his ancient 16 string Gibson harpguitar. He has remarkable compostional depth; think New Age with more melody and motion.......... Great technique, well recorded. This is a wholly, truly independent release, highly recommended for any lover of instrumental string music"
~ Rusty Russell, (writer for "Music Row and "Guitar Player" magazines)

Transluscent Harp is a dual purpose instrumental album. One is to provide music for solo harpguitar, the other is to feature the multi-instrumental side of Tom Shinness.

The harpguitar used is a Gibson built in 1913. It has six guitar strings and ten harp or bass strings. It sounds like a guitar with a bass player playing along. There are eight selections on Transluscent Harp which feature the solo harpguitar.

There are nine other tracks which feature Tom playing a multitude of instruments. Tom likes to take a variety of instruments and for a moment forget what they are traditionally used for, finding new ways to combine the sounds. Instruments used on these tracks include all types of guitars, mandolin, mandola, mando cello, mando bass, upright bass, fretless bass, acoustic bass guitar, cello, zither, dulcitar, tambura, harp, ukelin, penny whistle, pump organ, marimba, bells and other percussion.