Ken Monger held his Autoharp upright and leaned his face against the side of the instrument. He closed his eyes, listening to the song in his head before he even touched the strings.
With a gracious motion, Monger strummed, creating a sound like that of delicate wind chimes wafting on a spring breeze. When the time was right, Monger plucked the strings and the melody unfolded.
The small room that doubles as a music studio and office in the old house that Monger and his wife, June, share in Elkton, Va., became engulfed in the music. Monger seemed lost in the sound.
When the vibrations of the last string ended, Monger opened his eyes as if emerging from a comforting dream. "That's Edelweiss," he said with
Edelweiss is just one of many songs Monger, 69, has taught himself to play. He also plays big-band music, oldies, gospel, Civil War hymns and other tunes that catch his fancy.
"I like to listen to it," Monger said. "It's right in my head."
Monger says he fell in love with the Autoharp the first time he saw one. He was at a party in 1972, he recalls, when he noticed a friend sitting on the floor strumming an unusual looking stringed instrument.
Having taken guitar lessons as a boy, Monger recalls being intrigued by the 19th-century instrument that has strings like a guitar and buttons like an accordion. He asked his friend if he could give it a try.
Monger picked up the Autoharp and strummed. He was able to play a few chords, he recalls, and was immediately hooked. This, he decided, was the instrument for him.
