With a shared enthusiasm for the duo medium, James Manuele and Foti Lycouridis formed the Portland Guitar Duo in 1999. The Duo focuses on Historical Interpretation and performs on a number of instruments from the guitar and lute families such as Renaissance, Baroque lutes and Mandora, Baroque guitars, Romantic guitars of the 1800s, Modern Classical guitars and 10-string guitars. Playing contemporary and period instruments, the performers range over many composers and guitar styles, including transcriptions for guitar from other instruments. The virtuoso playing of Foti and James stimulates as it soothes. Their music is complex but also warm and inviting.