William Carter, instructor of guitar in the Penn State School of Music, will present a recital as part of the Historical Instrument series in the Palmer Museum of Art, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, in the museum's third floor gallery. Carter will play 19th century pieces on the theorbo and the 10-string guitar in the third show of this well-received series.

The theorbo, a 14-string bass instrument of incredible size and delicacy, is an exact replica of the original and was created by Andy Rutherford of New York City.

"I will play on the theorbo some Italian Baroque pieces to start," Carter said.

However, Carter's new 10-string guitar will be featured, "It's pretty neat visually. Most of the program will be devoted to it."

He will play music written by the virtuoso 19th century guitarists Fernando Sor, Jose Broca and Adam Darr on this instrument, fashioned after one made in Paris in the 1820s, by Gary Southwell of Nottingham, England.

"I will be playing a Schubert song, an arrangement of a Russian song, and an Irish song."

Carter described the 10-string guitar as "Pretty neat. People will freak when they see it. It's smaller than most classical guitars." Carter said this particular instrument is unusual in that it has four extra bass strings that enhance the sound, producing a ring similar to a harp. On some of the selections, he will be accompanied by his wife, Jayne McGowan.

Carter noted, "One of the pieces I'll be playing is one of the earliest pieces that has what people think of as a 'Spanish sound'. It's an early example of a Fandango, which is a pretty typical Spanish dance."

The music Carter will perform on Sunday is different than the music played in the Historical Instrument series to date, which has so far been dominated by chamber music. In the 19th century, Carter said, musicians began performing in public for money and this took music away from the amateur, chamber music tradition. And, as a result, made it "A little more exciting," Carter said.

"The music pulled out the stops more," Carter noted, whereas chamber music, "didn't make any concessions to where you could tap your foot." In 19th century music, "Composers tried to show off all the facets of the instruments, the fast licks."

Carter received his bachelor and master of music degrees from Florida State University. He participated in the North Carolina Artist in Residency program for four years prior coming to Penn State in 1985.

Jayne McGowan received a bachelor's degree in flute and a master's degree in music education with emphasis in voice from Florida State University, where the couple met.

The Historical Instruments series at the Palmer Museum of Art is free and open to the public.