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Sor, known as "The Father of the Classical Guitar", wrote this very lyric and disarmingly beautiful music in 1830 for a three necked, 21 string guitar called the harpolyre. It has gone unplayed until now and I am hoping that you would like to be involved in the discovery of this exciting music. With this recording I hope to give attention to an important forerunner of the harp guitar and to bring back to life some incredible music that went beyond six strings long ago.

John Doan brings back soulful and provocative musical sketches from a pilgrimage to the most sacred sites of the Celtic Isles. The twenty-string harp guitar is featured throughout in his most virtuostic outing joined by exotic percussion, ancient instruments, a choir of monks, fiddles, tin whistle, cello and more. Follow the ancient pilgrim's paths to locations made famous by the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland", along roads to secluded sanctuaries, and by boat to remote island retreats. Adventurous, thoughtful, and renewing - a journey memorable for its achingly beautiful moments and encouraging spirit. This CD includes a twenty-page booklet giving an in depth look into the inspiration behind each composition.

Eire is Doan's deeply felt homage to the indomitable Irish spirit. The richly detailed production by Doan and producer Billy Oskay blends traditional pipes, whistles, horns, and fiddles with the ringing tones of the harp guitar, and celebrates of the history and people of the Emerald Isle. All the music was composed on location where the history of the Irish people happened. Doan visits sites known as "Thin Places" where it was believed that the distance from Heaven to earth was thin as well as the difference between the past, present, and future. A beautifully written twenty-page booklet accompanies the CD.

The timeless tradition of carols, the sweet nostalgia evoked by dozens of vintage acoustic instruments: John Doan returns us to the cozy glow of an ideal Christmas warmly remembered, lovingly retold. This work is unlike any other Christmas album as it takes you back to a quieter time filled with joy and innocence.

Remembrance weaves the songs of yesteryear into new tapestries of music which evoke the America of a hundred years ago that still lives today. Arrangements feature the harp guitar throughout accompanied by small ensembles of mandolins, pump organ, piano as well as settings for chamber orchestra. This project has been an exciting adventure that has strengthened John's connection to the land, people, and events around him. In a world that daily discards the old for the "new and improved," this music is a small attempt to reweave the threads of our lives into the tapestry of time. John's inspiration has come from three musical traditions: folk tunes of the American West, the elegance and introspection of classical music, and the charm of parlour songs. Overall, this timeless production has superb performances by Billy Oskay and friends.

I am honored to be featured in this exciting video program alongside players who are a veritable "Who's Who" of the guitar world today (Doc Watson, Mason Williams, Abert Lee, Dan Crary, Andrew York, Eric Johnson, Doyle Dykes, etc.). There is a lot of wonderful historical footage and incredible performances not to be missed (Doc Watson is even caught playing my harp guitar in a behind the scenes moment!) Included in the bonus features are interviews and additional solos (I play "Farewell" on the harp guitar and a selection by Sor on the Harpolyre).

This DVD is a 90 minute documentary film by Fisher-King Productions with Emmy-Nominated host John Doan that aims at giving an entertaining overview to the world of the harp guitar. Filmed in 2005 John Doan visits important instrument collections from Paris to Los Angeles, talks with luthiers in their workshops in Sweden, England, Belgium, California, and Oregon and catches highlights of harp guitarists performing at a harp guitar gathering in Virginia. Lots of surprises occur along the way that makes this journey both informative and entertaining.


Some of today's finest guitarists forging new musical frontiers have found an outlet for their musings through century old harp guitars left over from America's past - a time when Mandolin Orchestras, vaudeville performers, and parlor musicians embraced a variety of guitar that had more than six strings. Today, owing to their scarcity and fragile condition, several of our most gifted luthiers have responded with new and innovative designs. Overall, this film documents guitar history in the making presented in the spirit of fun and discovery reaching back centuries, across continents, and beyond six strings.

This DVD was filmed on Location In Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. John Doan performs and tells stories throughout the Celtic Isles where he composed the music for his Eire and Wayfarer recordings. See inside ancient ruins, perch on rocks along roughed coastlines, and look in on a quiet moment late in the evening when all the tourists are gone and candles flicker. This is an enchanting adventure that is part travelogue, music video, and history lesson all in one. Be prepared to be transported outside of time!

A live outdoor concert featuring the twenty-string harp guitar & stories (1996). Filmed on location at Deepwood Estate in the heart of Salem, Oregon. In the side yard of a Victorian mansion hundred's of fans spread their blankets on the grass and lay back to enjoy a lazy afternoon basking in the music and stories of a hometown favorite. John plays music from his travels and tells of behind the scenes moments that inspired some of his writing.

Although traditions at Christmas have changed over the years we still strive to retain it’s warmth by spending time with family and friends. John Doan reminds us here in these programs of what our history was by bringing it back to life with stories and songs of the season. You just might find yourself laughing, singing, and cherishing those you love as you enjoy these holiday specials.

This Oregon Public Broadcasting production (1993) earned an Emmy Award Nomination for" Best Entertainment Special of the Year." It features John Doan on numerous instruments with dialogue, humor, and special guests. John tells of a time a century ago when people actually entertained themselves and each other and demonstrates what it was like by leading sing-alongs, playing dozens of authentic yet forgotten instruments, all the while sharing our history in a way that is both fun and thought provoking for the audience.

This Oregon Public Broadcasting (1991) teleplay classic has become a favorite among John's many fans. It is a musical and dramatic television special acting out how a family rediscovered the meaning of the season. John plays the part of a magical recluse living near Mount Hood in Oregon. His cabin is full of instruments hanging from the walls. A family is in the midst of fighting while driving in the car to a company Christmas Party. The car brakes down in the snow on a remote road in front of John's cabin so they seek warmth and use of a phone but receive much more from their brief visit. The program features performances on old instruments by John and the entire cast.

John plays the title track "Harp Guitar Dreams". This recording is a second in a series of recordings of some of the finest harp guitarists in the world. The recording includes tracks from Muriel Anderson, Andy McKee, Alex Degrassi, Don Alder, among many others. This recording is great to listen to while winding down after a long day. John's piece finishes out the album as a musical portrait of resting before drifting off into sleep. He uses the most restful chord that exists in nature titled "The Chord of Nature" that consists of the 4th, 5th, and 6th tone that emanates out of all musical pitches in an overtone series. If you need to fall asleep right away you may want to start the CD on this track! Sweet dreams.

(John plays "In John Fahey There is no East or West"). This is the first collection ever of just harp guitarists. The very best pieces by the most outstanding players are included here. This is a fine introduction to the world of harp guitar today. John co-produced the album with Gregg Miner and Stephen Bennett. John's piece is a dedication to his long standing friend John Fahey who lived near John and had recently passed away. John Fahey's signature tune was an old hymn "In Christ There Is No East or West." John Doan wrote this tribute while sitting at his final resting place reminiscing about Fahey's genius and his humanity.

(John plays solo "Night Crossing"). This was a ground breaking compilation of solo acoustic guitar playing by the most promising innovators of the contemporary style. John plays this piece on an original Knutsen eighteen-string harp guitar built in 1898. This is John's first national recording.

(John plays solo "Branles de Village"). This work is a rebirth of music lost to the passing of five centuries and recast in the unique stylings of John Doan, The Baltimore Consort, Liz Story, George Winston, Michael Hedges, among others. This harp guitar solo is a rendition of 16th century lute piece. One can hear some of John's early lute influences in his playing of this arrangement.

(John plays solo Amazing Grace"). A tribute of gratefulness in an offering of inspired interpretations of old hymns and songs by John Doan, Liz Story, George Winston, Michael Hedges, Will Ackerman, Paul Winter, among others. This is a warm collection of music by leading artists to usher in the winter season. Themes here in John's arrangement were taken from a medley of hymns John recorded earlier titled "Old Church" found on his Remembrance recording.

(John plays "Farewell"). John Doan leads off the first of these highly successful samplers of new sounds in Celtic inspired music. An international hit, it topped Billboard's charts for a year and has since sold over 500,000 copies. Sharing in this ground breaking recording are such artists as Loreena McKennitt, Alasdair Fraser, Joanie Madden, Davy Spillane, Nightnoise, among others. John got his inspiration for this piece while playing bedside for American folk legend Burl Ives. They had talked about the tradition of bards and how Burl had identified with his Irish roots and had even modeled his singing after John McCormick who was a famous Irish tenor. He spoke of how he saw his role as reminding people of their roots so that they would have a better idea of who they are now so that they can better walk proudly into their future. He was in the later stages of leukemia and had to remain lying for great periods of time. As John played on into the evening Burl drifted to sleep listening to this improvised tribute to America's last great bard.

(John plays "The Journey Home"). This sequel to the hit compilation Celtic Twilight matched and may have surpassed its model. John is again joined by such artists as Loreena McKennitt, Joanie Madden as well as others such as Nightnoise. This recording was special to John as he shares the album with Micheal O'Domhnaill (Nightnoise) who introduced him to Billy Oskay who has produced and recorded most of John's recordings. Kate and Ilene O'Moore (Micheal's Aunties) introduced John to Micheal as a result of an unplanned meeting where John was a guest in their bed and breakfast in Lahinch, Ireland, where they danced a jig and prayed a prayer over John and sent him off to play a practical joke on their "bad" nephew who had not come to visit them in a long time.

(John plays "Where Horses of Faery Hide"). Celtic Music ‘Round the World is the theme for Celtic Planet featuring artists from Spain, Norway, England, Ireland, the U.S. etc.