Canadian history came alive at the Gladstone Hotel ballroom last night in the form of music.

Singers, a photographer and Toronto mayor David Miller took the stage to celebrate Voyageur, the Six String Nation guitar, which CBC Radio’s Jowi Taylor created out of 64 pieces of Canadian heritage. (The guitar was built by George Rizsanyi.)

At the Luminato-sponsored launch for Taylor’s new book about the guitar’s creation, Six String Nation, the Peabody Award-winning broadcaster hosted a slideshow featuring photos of dozens of people posing with the guitar (including Jack Layton, Bob Rae and an uncomfortable Stephane Dion).

What’s the guitar made of? Pieces from Rocket Richard’s Stanley Cup ring, Pierre Trudeau’s canoe paddle, Paul Henderson and Wayne Gretzky’s hockey sticks, a seat from Massey Hall, part of the world’s oldest rock (near Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories), the first Acadian dwelling in Prince Edward Island, and more.

“This project has been fraught with more challenges that I thought [it would]. But I had a lot of help along the way,” Taylor admitted to the standing-room-only crowd. He described Voyageur as “not just a curiosity, not just a museum in a guitar shape. It has a beautiful voice.”

A voice that the audience got to hear. The guitar was played in acoustic musical numbers by Ariana Gillis, Madagascar Slim, Justin Rutledge and Canadian Idol judge Zack Werner.

“I’ve been devising ways in my head of how to get this guitar from Jowi,” Slim joked to the audience. “I thought of selling my body.”

With photos by Doug Nicholson, Six String Nation documents the stories behind the making - and touring - of Voyageur. Taylor began the project in 1995 in reaction to the Quebec referendum; the guitar “came off the bench” on June 15, 2006, Taylor’s birthday.

Taylor held back tears as he told the story of a 300-year-old golden spruce that provided Voyageur’s front face.

Located in British Columbia, the tree was considered sacred for its beauty and improbable survival. But a timber-industry scout cut it down in 1997 in an act of eco-terrorism. Taylor decided to visit the tree’s remains after David Suzuki told him about it. To date, only Taylor has been permitted to use a piece of the spruce.

Even the guitar case has Canadiana in it: bits of Don Cherry’s pants, Karen Kain’s tutu and Pierre Berton’s bow tie.

“I still can’t believe it’s a real thing,” Taylor said of his creation.