Nearly a decade after its inception, Thomas Lynn’s Music for 10 Guitars has been released into the world at the perfect time. As spring fights to awaken after a long and harsh winter, Music for 10 Guitars is the perfect wake up call.
Inspired by the distinct (and often drastic) seasons in Canada and arranged for 10 acoustic guitars in 2017, this stunningly dramatic album pushes the limit of minimalism. The striking arrangements across the album’s 6 tracks tell a story that requires no traditional language to understand. While minimalist compared to Lynn’s work in his solo project Mappe Of, the quiet moments of Music for 10 Guitars is intentional and filled with anticipation.
It should be no surprise that the guitar work is exceptional and the underscoring across each track creates the perfect atmosphere. At the core of the album is the driving sense of wonder. The tonal shifts within individual tracks are expertly layered and delivered with precision while remaining warm and natural. A standout example of the dynamic shifts and wordless storytelling comes in the latter half of “Tempest (And Then the Sun Swallowed the Sea)”.
With long-time collaborator Will Crann, Music for 10 Guitars was recorded in 2018 by setting up 5 chairs around one microphone, and recording each guitar part from a different chair. Crann mixed the album in 2019, and again in 2023 in Atmos.
While it is the Canadian seasons that inspired the album, Music for 10 Guitars is for anyone who has felt the heat of summer, the crispness of fall, the tempests of winter, and the beginnings of spring. Maybe a contemporary classical guitar album wasn’t on your bucket list of listens for 2026, but Thomas Lynn’s Music for 10 Guitars will change that.
Connect with Thomas Lynn:
Instagram
Bandcamp
Bio:
Hamilton, Ontario.
Mixed by Will Crann
Album Artwork by Quinn Henderson
