Good vibrations

That's the spot-on reply to what the acoustic guitar means to Gordon Giltrap - the guitarist extraordinaire who is performing at the Manoel Theatre on Tuesday. How can it be otherwise? The vibes of strum strings filling the air with haunting lilts and cadences while bodily clutching the curvilinear wooden frame have shaped his entire life.

"The acoustic guitar single handedly liberated me and set me on the path to a lifetime worth of music making," he affirms. "It's for me the most complete instrument ever invented and as the great Segovia said all those years ago, words to the effect that the guitar is a mini orchestra." The fervour with which he speaks again underlines the awe he feels by the "total completeness" in its evolution. "The way that piano, harpsichord and lute transcriptions work perfectly on the guitar... well almost."

More than a whiff of fairy tale infuses Giltrap's love affair with the acoustic guitar which kicked off with the joy of an unexpected discovery at nine years of age and leaped through an uncanny self-teaching experimentation with plectrum plus little finger. His signature sound has blended itself with folk, jazz, Blues, pop, classical, rock and baroque, leaving an indelible mark on music-making moments over the past 40 years. And there's no end in sight.

Trends stamp any kind of artistic expression yet Giltrap seems to have anticipated the notion of fusion in music. Is this right, or wide off the mark?

"I'm very flattered that you think so, but in all honesty I've never thought in terms of trends and have only gone with what I like or have a passion for. In 1981 I released the album called The Peacock Party which took all sorts of influences such as Celtic music, folk music, early music and classical music. Indeed all the stuff I love. All these years on, many consider it ahead of its time. But way back I was just doing my best to make a good record!"

Talking to Giltrap means tapping into the who's who list of musical legends precisely because he has performed with most of them and he readily admits to the "little of their essence" that has rubbed off his own musicianship even by being merely "around them".

Of course he himself has influenced a long list of big names though he tones down his own legendary status without a shred of false humility.

Is there someone he'd love to share the stage with? "Great Irish musicians like Bill Wheelan and Donal Lunney and the great piper Davy Spillan," is the immediate answer laced with a bit of schmaltz as he points to his Irish "extraction".

Silly romanticism or not, there's no denying the verve in the Emerald Isle where even a weed seems to inspire a tune. Giltrap's muse is far more introspective coming directly from the guitar or the occasional pondering over a title or painting and deliciously contrasting with the energy emanating from his still full head of wavy locks.

Going down the vista of years I cannot overcome the itch to ask whether he has ever overhauled something he wrote many moons back. "Yes, indeed. It's great to revisit my early pieces to see if I can give them a fresh approach. Sometimes, I surprise myself and think 'I don't think I can do anything better with this piece.' That's a nice experience to know that maybe you got it just right from the word go, even though in your heart you may feel as if you have moved on with your music."

Like any famous performer he has had to grapple with keeping up the spark when playing a very well-known piece. Having just turned 60, the age factor is an increasing bone of contention and he does not hesitate to admit that the ability to perform the energetic pieces in his repertoire is no longer a breeze. Nevertheless taking a long walk takes more of an effort he says.

At this point, we take a break from music talk and delve into his other "passion" for collecting old cameras, bric-a-brac and antiques, indicating someone who not only loves to look into the past but more especially relishes things made a universe away from our own instant coffee, one click culture.

Perhaps their tangibility also provides an antidote to the fleeting nature of music making.

Reverting to music I ask his opinion on what makes soulful music. His parting shot is: "Music that is played from the heart with no hidden agenda to impress the listener. Music that is honest."

The performance starts at 7.30 p.m.

• Tickets may be obtained from the Manoel Theatre booking office by phone on 2124 6389, by e-mail: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or online: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt