Unconventional classical guitar master
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Watching classical guitarist Paul Galbraith play can be a surprise for someone who has never seen him perform.
He holds the instrument like a cello with a supporting metal endpin resting on a wooden resonance box.
His guitar is equally unconventional. Instead of the usual six strings, it has two extra strings: one lower and one higher. Galbraith says this specially designed guitar, and his unusual way of playing it, is ideal for tackling challenging transcriptions of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Debussy and Ravel.
Galbraith was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has lived in Brazil for the past decade.
He is in Minnesota for a Tuesday night recital in Duluth at the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
The guitarist stopped by Minnesota Public Radio's Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for a conversation with host Ward Jacobson. He played a Mozart transcription and "Theme and Variations" by Lennox Berkley.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
