Paolo Angeli Constantly Innovates On Sardinian Prepared Guitar

Guitarist, composer, ethnomusicologist, and instrument builder Paolo Angeli plays a custom prepared Sardinian guitar, a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument that looks like a guitar crossed with a cello. Angeli’s build has been fitted cross-wise and lengthwise with additional strings: cello strings and drone strings, and has numerous other inventions attached to it, including hammers, pedals, bicycle cables, and some propellers at variable speed. Then, there’s his array of electronics and treatments...

Paolo Angeli demonstrates some of these sounds, which include percussion, organ, kora, sitar, slide guitar, cello, hammered dulcimer, fretless bass, and drone (and teases a new custom prototype in the works!) He also performs music from his latest release – a concept album about the wider Mediterranean - Rade, on his custom instrument, complete with plastic bag percussion, in-studio. - Caryn Havlik

Set list: "Baklawa", "Mare Lungo", "Rade"

Watch "Baklawa":

Watch: "Mare Lungo":

Watch "Rade":

Watch the entire session: