There have been some strange creatures appearing on this site over the past few days, which got me thinking about strange critters.
So here's an annoying little thread, in line with that annoying TV prog. on the World's Funniest Animals.
I came home today to find that our Terrier had lifted 'her' leg & pissed on my wife's Harp! Och well, the stain will probably add character & folklore to the instrument!
I just wish it'd been plugged in at the time - that would have taught the little so & so a lesson.
At least I assume it would have, but never having pissed on an electric fence myself I don't actually know - it's just an educated guess!
We also used to have a Scottie Dog which howled at the Moon when I played high notes on my Concertina.
So how many of you have had problems with animals in relation to your own ITM experience.
Have any of you had your instruments eaten by Parrots?
Devoured by woodworm?
Shat upon by flying critters?
Sat upon by big critters?
Nested in by any creatures great, or small?
Or do you play your music while fishing, to sooth your quarry?
When I was a kid we had a dog who would go and sit in a corner and howl when I played the recorder - damn good critic! Another critic In more recent years was a cat who would twitch her ears and march out of the room whenever I played the fiddle, but she would try to play with the cello bow when I was playing the cello. In the same era we had a cocker spaniel (now a dear departed) who would sometimes sit and listen in a "His Master's Voice" posture when I played the fiddle. My wife managed to get a photo of him on one of those occasions.
Fiddle -Little Cigar Box
Whistle -Gym Class Escapee
Bodhran -Dead Goaty Bits
Banjo -Constant Irritation
Piano -The think that makes a lovely discordant bang when pushed off a cliff
Mandolin -Picka picka
I once put my snakes in my bodhran. It was an interesting effect.
Around 1980 I had a whistle (generation brass) stood upon by a Percheron cross (draught horse) whilst on a 100 mile riding / camping trip! I later opened it up again with a long bolt so it was playable again. It languished in a cupboard for about 20 years. I then started playing it again and it improved rapidly and became my favourite whistle. Lovely tone, in tune and with a story in keeping with its battered appearance. The parallel curve of the horse shoe imprint was clear. BUT!!!
I lost it about a year ago. Disappeared without a trace. I'd love to have it back.
Boy caberman, that's some punch line - what a sad story. I assume you've looked down the back of the sofa & behind the fridge?
I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere - draught horse - draught Guinness etc but it's too early in the morning here........
I see from your bio that you hit Cork in 78. Guess we just missed each other cause I was there through the summer of 79. That bar you talk about on the quays wouldn't have been the Phoenix by any chance, would it?
And a long shot, your wife wouldn't be called Claudine, would she? I remember a French girl of that name in Milltown in 79 or 80, who played the Whistle & rode around from session to session on a little moped.
I noticed you drove 8ookm to hear Andy Irvine at Alice Springs.
I'm told he came to Ballycastle here, about 20 odd years ago & only half a dozen folk from the whole town could be bothered coming out to see him.
Guess some folks just don't know a good thing when they see it?
Bodhran schmodhran. Tipper schmipper.
It's a bloody drum. And a bloody stick.
That looks awfully like a doggy bone.
Just imagine, your'e a non-musician at a musical party when someone comes through and says "The dog ran off with my bow" - Unless they're Scarlett O'Hara or Robin Hood, you're gonna think "Oh, he/she means one of those hairy sticks they scrape that violin with"
Now, same party, someone says "The dog's got me tipper!"
well, modesty forbids me ...
So we're having a Hurdy Gurdy meet and somebody launched that buzzy bit and the dog caught it in the air and munched it 3 or 4 times before he realized it was wood. "The dog ate my chien!"
Well, I had heard that some men have nicknames for them, so I guess we now know what you call yours Bren!
Next, shop assistants in the Gents clothes department will be asking us blokes if we 'tipp' to the left, or to the right?
Oh yes, & I wondered why you would have a non musician at a musical party, but then I suppose you need someone to warm up the Pizza & bring in more drink, & mop up the ....................
As for you Owell. You lucky old so & so - a Hurdy Gurdy meet indeed!
As far as I can gather there are only about three Hurdy Gurdy players in Ireland, & no other ones in the North here, so that notion will remain just a dream for me - & until it happens, I will just have to struggle on without any buzzy bits in my tunes, cause I have absolutely no idea how to get that buzz from my chien. ( & yes, I did write that, with a straight face! )
I tried phoning 'Buzz Lightyear', but I guess he's ex-directory!
Just checked the sofa and the fridge again for the whistle what went. No luck. Oh well you gave me a glimmer of forlorn hope there. The Phoenix definitely rises out of the fading embers of my memory. I think you're right.
Not about Claudine though it was Denise and she was hitching.
Andy was worth the drive but I was useless driving straight in to work after the overnight trip.
Astonishing coincidence. I mentioned peeing on an electric fence over in the playing tunes you hate thread, before I had seen your mention of it here Ptarmy.
I once worked with a guy who peed on an electric fence. That was about 30 years ago. He still has a surprised look, and curly hair.
Probably on a par with the dog getting your tipper.
Showadd - Brings a tear to my eye, just thinking about it.
Friend of mine in Edinburgh, Harry Lawson, called one of his own tunes -'p*ssing through a Letter Box'!
He never did tell me what incident inspired the title, but I suspect it happened after he was chased away from someone's house, while 'trick or treating' - well you would, wouldn't you.
Might be a good idea, if you are in the habit of chasing 'treaters' away at this time of year, to put an electric bar fire 'on' & set it facing the inside of your letter box.
Now that brings a tear to my eye, just thinking about - but a tear of joy! Heeeaaaagh Hagh Haaaaaaaa...............................
Funny thing was, Harry always played that tune with another of his, called - 'The Little Shower of Snow'!
Beauty & the Beast!
My dog (God rest her soul) never really liked music, although she tolerated it. But whenever the whistle started playing in the higher range (a-b-c), she would sigh, get up and leave the room.
OK, how about combining the different strands of this thread, and choosing animals that you can Identify with certain instruments
e.g.
Flute - Whale
Accordion - Baboon
Guitar - Chimpanzee
Hammer Dulcimer - Hedgehog
Concertina - Armadillo
Fiddle - Racehorse
Whistle - Skylark
Bodhran - Goat (obviously)
Banjo - Gibbon
Piano - Elephant Seal
Mandolin - Crab
HudyGurdy - Donkey
& you guys say 'I'm' barmy!........................................................
Although Ottery might be onto something there. Anyone starting to make instruments could use some of these names for their instruments:
Favourites might be:
Gees a tune on yer Whale Flute.
Era rare Baboon Banjo o'r 'er.
Can a ha'e a wee hammer on yer Hedgehog Hammer Dulcimer?
Trill me a toon on yer Skylark Whistle, although I think thast name has already been nabbed for Chinese Violins!
Ha'e ye gote anither Goat Bodhran 'er?
I’ve had my bow hair eaten by some kinda little microscopic beastie. My wife said she had heard that mothballs would get rid of the critters and helpfully popped one into my fiddle case. I removed it two years ago, but the case still smells of mothball. I heard that the varmints can’t tolerate sunlight, so I propped the open case on my porch for half a day, hoping it would get rid of both the smell and any remaining hair eaters. I haven’t noticed any further hair loss, except on my head, but the smell still lingers.
"Some of the possible delayed consequences of 'exposure to Moth Balls' are life shortening, carcinogenesis, cataract formation, chronic radiodermatitis, decreased fertility, and genetic mutations!!!
Bob, a violin maker told me another method of getting rid of "bow bugs" was to put your case in the freezer. ? Don't know about you, but my freezer isn't big enough. Spray your stinky case with Febreze; works well and is harmless to the lining. Let it dry again in the sun before replacing your instrument.
JerryH - Hope you don't mind but I've taken your idea about "using animals that you can identify your fellow session musicians with", a stage further? It also links in with the recent Chameleon thread, too.
Hope nobody else feels left out, but I only bothered to look at those who actually visited this thread, & I started with the obvious animal links, so here they are:
Electrifying Experience?
Electrifying Experience?
There have been some strange creatures appearing on this site over the past few days, which got me thinking about strange critters.
So here's an annoying little thread, in line with that annoying TV prog. on the World's Funniest Animals.
I came home today to find that our Terrier had lifted 'her' leg & pissed on my wife's Harp! Och well, the stain will probably add character & folklore to the instrument!
I just wish it'd been plugged in at the time - that would have taught the little so & so a lesson.
At least I assume it would have, but never having pissed on an electric fence myself I don't actually know - it's just an educated guess!
We also used to have a Scottie Dog which howled at the Moon when I played high notes on my Concertina.
So how many of you have had problems with animals in relation to your own ITM experience.
Have any of you had your instruments eaten by Parrots?
Devoured by woodworm?
Shat upon by flying critters?
Sat upon by big critters?
Nested in by any creatures great, or small?
Or do you play your music while fishing, to sooth your quarry?
Or does your loud music keep mosquitos away?
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
at a New Years party, our dog ran off with a bodhran player's stick between his teeth like a bone
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Bren
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Oh oh Bren, you mean a Tipper?.
I can just see a lot of irate Bodhran players thinking - 'I suppose that dude Bren calls Fiddler's Bows sticks too'!
Mind you, you could say it was a term of endearment like an Accordion being a Box, or a Guitar being an Axe.
I wonder, do all ITM instruments have nicknames like those?
Let's see, what have we got so far?
Tipper - Stick
Flute - Hollow Stick
Accordion - Box
Guitar - Axe
Hammer Dulcimer - Cheese Slicer
Concertina - Constant Screamer
Fiddle -
Whistle -
Bodhran -
Banjo -
Piano -
Mandolin -
Feel free to fill in the blanks & add more as you think of them!
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
piano - joanna
When I was a kid we had a dog who would go and sit in a corner and howl when I played the recorder - damn good critic! Another critic In more recent years was a cat who would twitch her ears and march out of the room whenever I played the fiddle, but she would try to play with the cello bow when I was playing the cello. In the same era we had a cocker spaniel (now a dear departed) who would sometimes sit and listen in a "His Master's Voice" posture when I played the fiddle. My wife managed to get a photo of him on one of those occasions.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by lazyhound
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Fiddle -Little Cigar Box
Whistle -Gym Class Escapee
Bodhran -Dead Goaty Bits
Banjo -Constant Irritation
Piano -The think that makes a lovely discordant bang when pushed off a cliff
Mandolin -Picka picka
I once put my snakes in my bodhran. It was an interesting effect.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Electrifying Experience?
I read this part of Bren's follow-up:
>at a New Years party, our dog ran off with a bodhran player
...and I thought, "Must've been one helluva party."
Yes, I did read the rest of his sentence.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by sts
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Banjo = Banjaxe
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Donough
Re: Electrifying Experience?
harmonica-gob iron
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by tommy_wintle
Re: Electrifying Experience?
lots of tippers get carted off by dogs-----I love it
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Yeah, yeah, they must be music lovers etc
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Around 1980 I had a whistle (generation brass) stood upon by a Percheron cross (draught horse) whilst on a 100 mile riding / camping trip! I later opened it up again with a long bolt so it was playable again. It languished in a cupboard for about 20 years. I then started playing it again and it improved rapidly and became my favourite whistle. Lovely tone, in tune and with a story in keeping with its battered appearance. The parallel curve of the horse shoe imprint was clear. BUT!!!
I lost it about a year ago. Disappeared without a trace. I'd love to have it back.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by cabers
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Boy caberman, that's some punch line - what a sad story. I assume you've looked down the back of the sofa & behind the fridge?
I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere - draught horse - draught Guinness etc but it's too early in the morning here........
I see from your bio that you hit Cork in 78. Guess we just missed each other cause I was there through the summer of 79. That bar you talk about on the quays wouldn't have been the Phoenix by any chance, would it?
And a long shot, your wife wouldn't be called Claudine, would she? I remember a French girl of that name in Milltown in 79 or 80, who played the Whistle & rode around from session to session on a little moped.
I noticed you drove 8ookm to hear Andy Irvine at Alice Springs.
I'm told he came to Ballycastle here, about 20 odd years ago & only half a dozen folk from the whole town could be bothered coming out to see him.
Guess some folks just don't know a good thing when they see it?
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Bodhran schmodhran. Tipper schmipper.
It's a bloody drum. And a bloody stick.
That looks awfully like a doggy bone.
Just imagine, your'e a non-musician at a musical party when someone comes through and says "The dog ran off with my bow" - Unless they're Scarlett O'Hara or Robin Hood, you're gonna think "Oh, he/she means one of those hairy sticks they scrape that violin with"
Now, same party, someone says "The dog's got me tipper!"
well, modesty forbids me ...
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Bren
Re: Electrifying Experience?
So we're having a Hurdy Gurdy meet and somebody launched that buzzy bit and the dog caught it in the air and munched it 3 or 4 times before he realized it was wood. "The dog ate my chien!"
Well it's that kind of world.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Well, I had heard that some men have nicknames for them, so I guess we now know what you call yours Bren!
Next, shop assistants in the Gents clothes department will be asking us blokes if we 'tipp' to the left, or to the right?
Oh yes, & I wondered why you would have a non musician at a musical party, but then I suppose you need someone to warm up the Pizza & bring in more drink, & mop up the ....................
As for you Owell. You lucky old so & so - a Hurdy Gurdy meet indeed!
As far as I can gather there are only about three Hurdy Gurdy players in Ireland, & no other ones in the North here, so that notion will remain just a dream for me - & until it happens, I will just have to struggle on without any buzzy bits in my tunes, cause I have absolutely no idea how to get that buzz from my chien. ( & yes, I did write that, with a straight face! )
I tried phoning 'Buzz Lightyear', but I guess he's ex-directory!
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Just checked the sofa and the fridge again for the whistle what went. No luck. Oh well you gave me a glimmer of forlorn hope there. The Phoenix definitely rises out of the fading embers of my memory. I think you're right.
Not about Claudine though it was Denise and she was hitching.
Andy was worth the drive but I was useless driving straight in to work after the overnight trip.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by cabers
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Astonishing coincidence. I mentioned peeing on an electric fence over in the playing tunes you hate thread, before I had seen your mention of it here Ptarmy.
I once worked with a guy who peed on an electric fence. That was about 30 years ago. He still has a surprised look, and curly hair.
Probably on a par with the dog getting your tipper.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Showadd - Brings a tear to my eye, just thinking about it.
Friend of mine in Edinburgh, Harry Lawson, called one of his own tunes -'p*ssing through a Letter Box'!
He never did tell me what incident inspired the title, but I suspect it happened after he was chased away from someone's house, while 'trick or treating' - well you would, wouldn't you.
Might be a good idea, if you are in the habit of chasing 'treaters' away at this time of year, to put an electric bar fire 'on' & set it facing the inside of your letter box.
Now that brings a tear to my eye, just thinking about - but a tear of joy! Heeeaaaagh Hagh Haaaaaaaa...............................
Funny thing was, Harry always played that tune with another of his, called - 'The Little Shower of Snow'!
Beauty & the Beast!
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
My dog (God rest her soul) never really liked music, although she tolerated it. But whenever the whistle started playing in the higher range (a-b-c), she would sigh, get up and leave the room.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Electrifying Experience?
OK, how about combining the different strands of this thread, and choosing animals that you can Identify with certain instruments
e.g.
Flute - Whale
Accordion - Baboon
Guitar - Chimpanzee
Hammer Dulcimer - Hedgehog
Concertina - Armadillo
Fiddle - Racehorse
Whistle - Skylark
Bodhran - Goat (obviously)
Banjo - Gibbon
Piano - Elephant Seal
Mandolin - Crab
HudyGurdy - Donkey
Hope that all makes sense ....
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Mark - you really should mix some tobacco with it before you smoke it.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Electrifying Experience?
How about animals that you can identify your fellow session musicians with?
e.g.
Ottery - er...
Ptarmigan - ...
Never mind.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by JerryH
Re: Electrifying Experience?
& you guys say 'I'm' barmy!........................................................
Although Ottery might be onto something there. Anyone starting to make instruments could use some of these names for their instruments:
Favourites might be:
Gees a tune on yer Whale Flute.
Era rare Baboon Banjo o'r 'er.
Can a ha'e a wee hammer on yer Hedgehog Hammer Dulcimer?
Trill me a toon on yer Skylark Whistle, although I think thast name has already been nabbed for Chinese Violins!
Ha'e ye gote anither Goat Bodhran 'er?
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
I’ve had my bow hair eaten by some kinda little microscopic beastie. My wife said she had heard that mothballs would get rid of the critters and helpfully popped one into my fiddle case. I removed it two years ago, but the case still smells of mothball. I heard that the varmints can’t tolerate sunlight, so I propped the open case on my porch for half a day, hoping it would get rid of both the smell and any remaining hair eaters. I haven’t noticed any further hair loss, except on my head, but the smell still lingers.
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Bob, I'd burn that case - NOW!
"Some of the possible delayed consequences of 'exposure to Moth Balls' are life shortening, carcinogenesis, cataract formation, chronic radiodermatitis, decreased fertility, and genetic mutations!!!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Sorry Bob, only joking, I actually substituted 'exposure to Moth Balls' for 'radiation injury'!
But those babies do stink & I did throw a cheap fiddle case away one time, cause I just couldn't get rid of the smell!
Skunks move over - Moths Balls are King!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Electrifying Experience?
Bob, a violin maker told me another method of getting rid of "bow bugs" was to put your case in the freezer. ? Don't know about you, but my freezer isn't big enough. Spray your stinky case with Febreze; works well and is harmless to the lining. Let it dry again in the sun before replacing your instrument.
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by dmarie
Re: Electrifying Experience?
JerryH - Hope you don't mind but I've taken your idea about "using animals that you can identify your fellow session musicians with", a stage further? It also links in with the recent Chameleon thread, too.
Hope nobody else feels left out, but I only bothered to look at those who actually visited this thread, & I started with the obvious animal links, so here they are:
Ottery - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter
Ptarmigan - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptarmigan
But | quickly ran out of animals so I thought, I might as well name & shame the rest of you & blow your cover while I was at it, so here goes.
showaddydadito - http://www.jasonwest.com/Showaddywaddy.htm
- but which one is he?
Jerry H - http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jerryhall/
- one of our more glamorous members
AlBrown - http://www.albrownsguideservice.com/
- always thought there was something fishy about that dude?
Trevor Jennings - http://www.sandretto.co.uk/news/News%20Items/2004/oct_2004_trevor_retires.html
- one of the 'old boys' I see?
Zazzaliss - http://www.neopets.com/~Zazzaliss
- no need to be Koy now!
sts - http://www.sts.org/
- the brainy one here!
Donough - http://www.backbeatbeatles.com/paul.htm
- I always said Donough was 'Fab'!
tommy_wintle - http://www.edwinjohnwintle.com/news.html
- OK he's Edwin, but Tommy to his friends!
mcknowall - http://www.mcknowall.com/
- Mr Bodhran
caberman - http://forum.bodybuilding.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=11354&password=&sort=1&cat=all&page=7
- the fittest dude around here!
Owell Mabee - http://www.owellprecast.com/
- always said he was a 'solid' guy!
& finally:
Bren - http://www.brengun.org.uk/
- don't worry Bren, we're all open minded here!
So that's a few of us, 'out of the closet' - so to speak!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by Ptarmigan