But surely in a musical instrument even more than in some other things, form must follow function. So if a glass fiddle sounds as good as a traditionally made wood fiddle that's fine, but if it doesn't then the point has been lost to pretention.
Don't point that glass bodhran at me.
"And the first item to come under the hammer at this auction is this fine glass bodhran" (to borrow from the Goon Show)
But why does the title at the top of the little video say "Hario V60 Coffee Dripper" ? I think we should be told.
Who was it in the '70s' played a perspex violin ? The guy in Curved Air I believe ?
But even this glass violin has a wooden bridge and strings of the usual nature, surely ? Plus what looks like a wooden chin-rest. It's not as if it's ALL glass.
I've watched the video in Mark's opening post. First thing was fairly obvious - although the tone is reasonably attractive, it certainly isn't the tone of a wood violin (I wouldn't have expected it to be), but with a pickup and the appropriate electronic wizardry, who knows? However, I doubt whether it would be the mainstay of Joshua Bell's career.
"Each violin is hand-blown from a single piece of sturdy, heat-resistant glass"
Now, I'm not a glass technologist, but how do you hand-blow "heat-resistant" glass?
I wonder if they mean tempered? Whatever that is! And I'm still intrigued to know what that Coffee Dripper is that's mentioned in the title of the video page.
Mark, the company that makes the glass violin (played by Vanessa-Mae in the demo video?) is evidently expanding from its core business of kitchen and culinary glassware. The "Coffee Dripper" is a coffee percolator.
I think the perfect song to play on a glass instrument would "I'm Looking Through You".
Speaking as a bass player, I don't think I would like a double bass made of glass because I wouldn't be able to hide behind it unlike the wooden double bass which I use now.
I've seen a guy at symphony playing on a plexy cello, but never seen a glass one before O.o It seems like the finger board would feel weird, wouldn't it? And I'd hate to think what would happen if you accidently hit your violin hard with your bow while playing!
Carbon fibre cellos (and violins) have been designed, and are being produced, by a cellist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The link is http://www.luisandclark.com/
That glass violin again ...
We all know the stories about wine glasses being shattered by a singer hitting a certain high note. Now what if a particular frequency is played strongly with the bow on that glass violin ... ?
Raise your glasses...
Raise your glasses...
Hi all,
I've heard of glass flutes, but have never seen one. Now this
http://www.javys.com/hario/newproduct/violin.htm#
What will they think of next?
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Raise your glasses...
And why?
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Raise your glasses...
Tubes!
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Raise your glasses...
I played a glass flute.
It was ok.
But surely in a musical instrument even more than in some other things, form must follow function. So if a glass fiddle sounds as good as a traditionally made wood fiddle that's fine, but if it doesn't then the point has been lost to pretention.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Raise your glasses...
hmm . . . . I can see the point of a glass bodhran . . . .
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Raise your glasses...
Don't point that glass bodhran at me.
"And the first item to come under the hammer at this auction is this fine glass bodhran" (to borrow from the Goon Show)
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Raise your glasses...
I hear they sound a bit sharp....
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Nick Splease
Re: Raise your glasses...
A glass squeeze-box wouldn't be a lot of use.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Raise your glasses...
But why does the title at the top of the little video say "Hario V60 Coffee Dripper" ? I think we should be told.
Who was it in the '70s' played a perspex violin ? The guy in Curved Air I believe ?
But even this glass violin has a wooden bridge and strings of the usual nature, surely ? Plus what looks like a wooden chin-rest. It's not as if it's ALL glass.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Raise your glasses...
Terrible idea.. that's a blood bath waiting to happen.
"Who broke my glass fiddle while I was in the mens'? I say WHO BROKE MY GLASS FIDDLE?"
Wouldn't even have to smash a bottle after that.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by gravelwalks
Re: Raise your glasses...
I think there was a perspex fiddle played in a few bands on TOTP back in the seventies. Didn't the guy with the teeth in Slade play one sometimes?
Perhaps the beeb kept one in the dressing up cupboard.
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Raise your glasses...
Darryl Way of Curved Air played a plastic violin, but it was electric not acoustic.
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by greg n'sheils
Re: Raise your glasses...
The Parting Glass
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by lisaniska
Re: Raise your glasses...
I've watched the video in Mark's opening post. First thing was fairly obvious - although the tone is reasonably attractive, it certainly isn't the tone of a wood violin (I wouldn't have expected it to be), but with a pickup and the appropriate electronic wizardry, who knows? However, I doubt whether it would be the mainstay of Joshua Bell's career.
"Each violin is hand-blown from a single piece of sturdy, heat-resistant glass"
Now, I'm not a glass technologist, but how do you hand-blow "heat-resistant" glass?
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
I wonder if they mean tempered? Whatever that is! And I'm still intrigued to know what that Coffee Dripper is that's mentioned in the title of the video page.
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Raise your glasses...
"tempered", or perhaps "heat-strengthened"? Looks like something's got lost in the translation.
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
Mark, the company that makes the glass violin (played by Vanessa-Mae in the demo video?) is evidently expanding from its core business of kitchen and culinary glassware. The "Coffee Dripper" is a coffee percolator.
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
It would be interesting to see a cello or double bass being hand-blown from a single sheet of molten glass!
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
"hmm . . . . I can see the point of a glass bodhran "
No pane, no gain.
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by All Moldy
Re: Raise your glasses...
groan...!!
# Posted on July 3rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Raise your glasses...
I think the perfect song to play on a glass instrument would "I'm Looking Through You".
Speaking as a bass player, I don't think I would like a double bass made of glass because I wouldn't be able to hide behind it unlike the wooden double bass which I use now.
# Posted on July 3rd 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Raise your glasses...
Hmm, yes. That applies to the cello as well.
# Posted on July 3rd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
I've seen a guy at symphony playing on a plexy cello, but never seen a glass one before O.o It seems like the finger board would feel weird, wouldn't it? And I'd hate to think what would happen if you accidently hit your violin hard with your bow while playing!
Leave it to the Japanese....
# Posted on July 4th 2009 by Ainwyn
Re: Raise your glasses...
I rarely use my bow on my bass (either acoustic or electric). Instead, I usually plucky the strings with my fingers (yes, I am a plucky bass player).
# Posted on July 4th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Raise your glasses...
Carbon fibre cellos (and violins) have been designed, and are being produced, by a cellist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The link is http://www.luisandclark.com/
# Posted on July 4th 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
Thank you for the luisandclark link, lazyhound. It was interesting.
# Posted on July 4th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Raise your glasses...
That glass violin again ...
We all know the stories about wine glasses being shattered by a singer hitting a certain high note. Now what if a particular frequency is played strongly with the bow on that glass violin ... ?
# Posted on July 5th 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Raise your glasses...
It would probably have to be a Very Low Frequency to shatter a double bass made of glass.
# Posted on July 6th 2009 by fauxcelt