"The autoharp is a nice, quiet instrument' seemingly made for the musically challenged: Push a button with one hand' strum with the other--hey, you're making music. But in the hands of a few gifted people, the autoharp can swell into the sound of a whole orchestra. Karen Mueller is one of those few..." --Minneapolis Star Tribune. |
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Bluegrass Unlimited says "Karen Mueller's touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity...of musical vision for an under-appreciated instrument deserve a wide Audience." | ||
| Mueller's autoharp playing is based on a love of traditional bluegrass, old-time and Celtic music, yet all the while she is giving a new voice to the instrument. Sing Out! magazine says ''Mueller takes the autoharp into unfamiliar places ... stellar ... a delightful change of pace." Never before has an autoharp player so successfully crossed so many musical boundaries, uniting the speed and drive of bluegrass, the lilt of Irish jigs, and the rhythmic innovation of contemporary and world music, all marked by impressive musicianship. | ||
| "This Minneapolis resident's confident, take-charge approach sets the tone and turns the autoharp into an impressive lead instrument clearly capable of forging some butt-kicking, daring, high-energy music... She's taking the autoharp into new and exciting territory." --Dirty Linen |
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| In 1986, Mueller was the youngest-ever winner of the International Autoharp Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, and she has returned four times to perform at this prestigious festival. Autoharpoholic magazine describes her as "one of the top autoharp players in the world." |
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Mueller's latest CD, Clarity, includes guest artist Tony Trischka on banjo. Reviewing that CD, Autoharp Quarterly says Karen has "attained new heights of professionalism, maturity and excitement both in the attainment of her musical goals and in the world of autoharp recording." |
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may be found on the Walnut Valley web site. | ||