Brin Addison - Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata 15 string Harp Guitar

Brin Addison performing Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata“ 1st movement, No. 14 in A minor “Quasi una fantasia“, Op. 27 , No. 2 on a Hubert Heerbeck 1940’s Schrammel-gitarre, also known as a Kontra-gitarre, a Harp guitar or Viennese guitar. The first 6 strings are tuned like a regular classical guitar, the 9 Sub-bass strings are traditionally tuned chromatically from D# down to G however I chose to tune them as follows: 7D, 8C, 9B, 10A, 11G#, 12G, 13F#, 14F, 15E, which I find more useful as it allows me to play down to an octave below the 6E of the regular fretted neck. This piece was very challenging to learn but I feel the sub-bass strings bring it closer to the piano’s voice. Classical guitar has very little sustain, something which is needed in this sonata, however the bass notes sustain quite well which adds to the effect of playing piano without dampers. I hope you enjoy my performance. Check out Brin Addison’s Power Trio “Guilt Monkey“