We've had various threads recently about things that look or sound like other things, e.g. names of tunes that sound like something else, so here's another one for yez a'.
Mrs Ptarmigan bought me an old book in a 2nd hand Book Shop in Bushmills this afternoon. It's called The Musical Instrument Collector. In it are some brilliant photos of old Mandolins, Guitars & Banjos, including Mandolins with fiddle scrolls on the headstock!
One photo from the 20s shows Lloyd Loar, Gibson innovator & his Mandolin group which includes 3 Mandolins + one Octave Mandolin & one enormous Bass Mandolin.
However, the photos that interested me the most are two which show a 'Trujo Banjo', which has a metal pot similar to my old 20s John Grey, but it's the headstock that is really fascinating for it's in the shape of a 'Lions Face'!
It looks amazing.
I have a set of bones that Davy [Flute player] Maguire painted for me about 30 years ago. he covered them with the mystical beasties from the book of Kells and I reckon they are unique.
Although a work of art [IMHO] they get the run out every now and then but still look great.
Probably about time I got Davy to do a wee touch up mind you [the bones, not me that is ]
Instruments with animal heads or figurines are usually Scandinavian in origin. They also make some interesting instruments with six strings or strings under the neck that tune sympathetically for a reverberated effect. Old baroque instruments had animal heads or figurines as a feature but I doubt you'll see one outside of a museum. An animal head banjo is a new one on me, i confess.
Check out Salvador Dali's Violin here, it's a cracker - plus a Harp with man's head, a Viol with man's head, a Horse Head Fiddle, a Lion's Head on a Viola de Gamba, a Head on a Hurdy Gurdy & even an Apache Fiddler: http://www.siegelproductions.ca/fiddlefarmers/unusualinstruments.html
I have see a few instruments over the years with animal carvings on them. Mainly on fiddles though.
I fell across a nice little music shop a few years ago in Prague with a shed load them (lutes,mandolins etc) but most were very old and not for sale, just on display. Nice to look at, not so sure about the sound!
Seanie.
Hurdy-gurdys are generally richly carved, often with human faces. I've also seen some cabrettes (French type bagpipes) with, as far as I remember, lion's heads (the lion has the chanter in its mouth - sorry, it wasn't my idea). Hungarian bagpipes often have little horns just above the chanter, legend has it that they're supposed to scare off the devil. I also know a fiddler in Holland with a lion's head carved on it, but as far as I know it's not supposed to scare off anyone.
Ron, sometimes you just have to faece the music! Of course sometimes it's the instrument that's sh*t & sometimes it's the player, but hey, that's a whole 'nother thread!
No more toilet humour guys, pleez. Let's raise the standard a little. I know there was an ar*e on the back of that Dali's fiddle, above, but this is getting silly!
I can't imagine an ar*e carved into the back of a banjo's resonator, but I have seen an X Ray plate, of a pelvic region used as a banjo head! Would have taken a doctor to work out if it was male or female!
There is a Ludwig Big Chief Tenor Banjo (1930) with an Indian ( NATIVE AMERICAN ) Chief's head in profile as the headstock and Gruhn Guitars has one on sale at present for $7500 if anybody is MAD enough to pay that kind of money for it .Stick to your 1920s John Grey , it probably sounds a lot better !
Sure Far, I have one myself, made in Wales, but I only play a few tunes on it & I find that ITM, for me, just doesn't sound right on it, but French & Medieval music just sounds FAB!
Yeah Sparrow, I've seen photos of that Banjo your speaking of, with the big chief's head on it. If the Lottery ticket ever came up, maybe, but heck, you can only play one banjo at a time so I think I'd rather track down a 'good' Paragon if money was no object.
Hey Sparrow, just checked out their site & saw this 5 string banjo for $10,000! Can you imagine taking an instrument of that value down the pub for a few tunes, & leaving it alone while you went to the loo, or up to the bar?
I have a "so lu" my sister-in-law brought me back from Thailand which is kind-of like an erhu but with the soundbox made out of a coconut, and on the back of the coconut facing the player is a jack lantern kind of face which I am told is supposed to be a cat.
"Has anyone ever tried to play ITM on a Hurdy Gurdy? Or seen someone? I"d get one and try but they start at like, $3,000.
It's OK for slides and polkas, In the band I frequently play a drone under the whistles or singers. Remember you have only 4 fingers on a linear scale the size of a viola. Most irish tunes take 1 1/2 octaves and jump 4th's and 5ths regularly. Not saying it can't be done, but it doesn't really sound right. "Atholl Highlanders " works pretty well, in spite of the down-arpeggios and the jumps in the third part.
The price IS a big hurdle, especially if you don't know whether you want to play or not. I made my first one, took about 6 months.
"Sure Far, I have one myself, made in Wales, but I only play a few tunes on it & I find that ITM, for me, just doesn't sound right on it, but French & Medieval music just sounds FAB!"
Speaking of playing ITM on the hurdy-gurdy, I met a busker years ago who was playing Irish songs on the hurdy-gurdy in Luxemburg. He told me he was from Galway, where he had tried to play it at sessions, but the other musicians kept telling him to go away because it wasn't a traditionally Irish instrument. Once he asked the musicians where they were from, and it turned out they were Dutch, German, French, whatever - in other words, he was the only Irishman in the company but he was being told to go because he was not Irish enough...
Hey, great story flipdievleugelt.
Boy but there are some real feckin eejits around, aren't there!
Doesn't matter about the name by the way, I'd probably forget it anyway & there's probably more chance that I'll remember the French one.
In keeping with the other recent theme of this thread though, I'm going to have a go at playing it on my Gurdy, first chance I get.
I'd say it'll sound braw!
Tish, the story of your instrument reminds me of that great we Kerry Slide - 'The Hair Fell off My Coconut'. I wonder did you ever try playing that tune on it?
I'll have to get that tune and hear it. Out here on the lone prairie, wire and wind can do some pretty strange things.
And there are so few French titles that go beyond geographical reference.
Chris and Sabina do nice work. I'm very proud for all 3 of you that you have one of theirs. I've been intending to e-mail him a joke, I'll mention you to him.
There was a lad, Chris/Paul ? Yates played hurdy gurdy in sessions up Lancaster way, late 70s early 80s. I first heard him as a flute player. Sadly he died all too young of a heart attack.
I think Big Mick Johnson did carve some fabulous heads in to the scrolls on fiddles. He had incredible hands for things like that.
What about this 'Crocodile-shaped Zither from Burma'. I'm sure it would cut a dash at your next session!: http://www.usd.edu/smm/Beede4.html
"Out here on the lone prairie, wire and wind can do some pretty strange things." - Darn, blasted homesteaders still causin' you 'cowboys' some problems eh Owell?
Aye Brian, I seem to remember Chris telling me that there's a lady, in England I believe, who does brilliant carving work on Gurdys.
Sorry, I can't remember her name though.
Luthier Bill Bussman, renowned for his sense of humor, has made several instruments with animal themes. Check out his bass guitar and some others: http://www.zianet.com/bussmann/photo_fun.html
Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
We've had various threads recently about things that look or sound like other things, e.g. names of tunes that sound like something else, so here's another one for yez a'.
Mrs Ptarmigan bought me an old book in a 2nd hand Book Shop in Bushmills this afternoon. It's called The Musical Instrument Collector. In it are some brilliant photos of old Mandolins, Guitars & Banjos, including Mandolins with fiddle scrolls on the headstock!
One photo from the 20s shows Lloyd Loar, Gibson innovator & his Mandolin group which includes 3 Mandolins + one Octave Mandolin & one enormous Bass Mandolin.
However, the photos that interested me the most are two which show a 'Trujo Banjo', which has a metal pot similar to my old 20s John Grey, but it's the headstock that is really fascinating for it's in the shape of a 'Lions Face'!
It looks amazing.
Here's a link to a similar Banjo but the face isn't distinct at all on this one:
http://www.freedomguitar.com/description.php?II=9875&UID=2005112309553681.178.250.34
Does anyone have, or has seen one of these weird beasties?
Does anyone have any instrument which has an animal or human face or head carved on it?
If you could have a human face carved on your instrument, who's face would you want there, & why?
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Reminds me of this thread: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/1926
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by slainte
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I have a set of bones that Davy [Flute player] Maguire painted for me about 30 years ago. he covered them with the mystical beasties from the book of Kells and I reckon they are unique.
Although a work of art [IMHO] they get the run out every now and then but still look great.
Probably about time I got Davy to do a wee touch up mind you [the bones, not me that is
]
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by breandan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Go to www.vassarclements.com and see the fiddle on the home page (very sad).
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by dmarie
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Ugh! I didn't see the tears right away. What a face!
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Instruments with animal heads or figurines are usually Scandinavian in origin. They also make some interesting instruments with six strings or strings under the neck that tune sympathetically for a reverberated effect. Old baroque instruments had animal heads or figurines as a feature but I doubt you'll see one outside of a museum. An animal head banjo is a new one on me, i confess.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Farr
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I think animal heads are actually a world wide phenomenon Farr & I've done a bit of rootin' about & managed to find a few more interesting ones:
Mongolian Horse Head Fiddle
http://www.asiasource.org/arts/Mongolia.cfm
http://mongoluls.net/morinkhuur.shtml
Viola d'Amore:
http://www.violadamore.com/avd.asp
Vassar's fiddle:
http://www.vassarclements.com/fiddle.html
Pig Fiddle:
http://www.oldmusicalinstruments.co.uk/instruments/instrument_detail.php?id=34&cat=BS
Lizard Tailpiece:
http://www.faculty.sbc.edu/lpharis/
Viola de Gamba:
http://www.violadagamba.com/Specialviol.htm
Check out Salvador Dali's Violin here, it's a cracker - plus a Harp with man's head, a Viol with man's head, a Horse Head Fiddle, a Lion's Head on a Viola de Gamba, a Head on a Hurdy Gurdy & even an Apache Fiddler:
http://www.siegelproductions.ca/fiddlefarmers/unusualinstruments.html
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
& what about this, tales of 'matchstick men' indeed -
"Some 14,000 matchsticks later, Jack produced a working violin, bow and all."
http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/matchsticks/
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I have see a few instruments over the years with animal carvings on them. Mainly on fiddles though.
I fell across a nice little music shop a few years ago in Prague with a shed load them (lutes,mandolins etc) but most were very old and not for sale, just on display. Nice to look at, not so sure about the sound!
Seanie.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by seaniemcg
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Lucky you Seanie.
Yes, they seem to be a feature of the fiddle family of instruments, as these links below will demonstrate.
But does anyone have any knowledge of them on other string, wind or percussion instruments?
Swan & Horse Head Fiddles on this page:
http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/mongolia_instrum.html
Woman's head on a Viola de Gamba:
http://www.liuteria-antica.com/hoskins.html
Woman's Head on a Treble viola da gamba:
http://www.liuteria-antica.com/treble.html
Man's head on a Bass viola da gamba:
http://www.liuteria-antica.com/bertrand-bass.html
Woman's Head on a Bass viola da gamba:
http://www.liuteria-antica.com/barbey.html
Woman's Head on a Hurdy Gurdy:
http://www.civilization.ca/arts/opus/images/opus23n.jpg
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Hurdy-gurdys are generally richly carved, often with human faces. I've also seen some cabrettes (French type bagpipes) with, as far as I remember, lion's heads (the lion has the chanter in its mouth - sorry, it wasn't my idea). Hungarian bagpipes often have little horns just above the chanter, legend has it that they're supposed to scare off the devil. I also know a fiddler in Holland with a lion's head carved on it, but as far as I know it's not supposed to scare off anyone.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by flipdievleugelt
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Lion's head on a cabrette (I think):
http://huizen.ddsw.nl/bewoners/ragroen/fotoos/mrt2004_22.jpg
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by flipdievleugelt
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Hey flipdievleugelt, thanks for that. Interesting Bagpipes - & a respectable looking Piper too, most unusual!
Speaking about ornate bagpipes, what about this one:
http://www.dudziarz.art.pl/gajdyslaskie.jpg
P. S. I love that tune on your site too - 'Fil et Bobine'. What does that mean in English?
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Jesus Dick, what a relief - when I looked at the title of this thread, I first of all misread it as "........... or human faeces".
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ron P
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Ron, sometimes you just have to faece the music! Of course sometimes it's the instrument that's sh*t & sometimes it's the player, but hey, that's a whole 'nother thread!
For any Banjo nuts out there, I found more details on that Trujo Banjo at:
http://www.freedomguitar.com/products_folk.php?UID=2005112309541181.178.250.34
Item#
2120
Very Good
Year: 1950's
Color: Natural
Case: Original Hard Shell Case
Gibson Made Banjo With Face Carved Into The Headstock, Really Nice.
Sale Price = $1679
Regular Price $1695
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I know what you mean, Ron, I thought that other thread said, "Recording a session with a porta-potty" until I looked a little closer.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Has anyone ever tried to play ITM on a Hurdy Gurdy? Or seen someone? I"d get one and try but they start at like, $3,000.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Farr
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
No more toilet humour guys, pleez. Let's raise the standard a little. I know there was an ar*e on the back of that Dali's fiddle, above, but this is getting silly!
I can't imagine an ar*e carved into the back of a banjo's resonator, but I have seen an X Ray plate, of a pelvic region used as a banjo head! Would have taken a doctor to work out if it was male or female!
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
There is a Ludwig Big Chief Tenor Banjo (1930) with an Indian ( NATIVE AMERICAN ) Chief's head in profile as the headstock and Gruhn Guitars has one on sale at present for $7500 if anybody is MAD enough to pay that kind of money for it .Stick to your 1920s John Grey , it probably sounds a lot better !
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Red Robin
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Sure Far, I have one myself, made in Wales, but I only play a few tunes on it & I find that ITM, for me, just doesn't sound right on it, but French & Medieval music just sounds FAB!
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Yeah Sparrow, I've seen photos of that Banjo your speaking of, with the big chief's head on it. If the Lottery ticket ever came up, maybe, but heck, you can only play one banjo at a time so I think I'd rather track down a 'good' Paragon if money was no object.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Hey Sparrow, just checked out their site & saw this 5 string banjo for $10,000! Can you imagine taking an instrument of that value down the pub for a few tunes, & leaving it alone while you went to the loo, or up to the bar?
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
em..........er............ooops, sorry:
http://www.gruhn.com/photo/JA5332.jpg
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
"Vassar Clements . had no idea he had left ."
Yeah, John and Vassar both gone now. Aereo-Plain and the fiddle remain.
KFG
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by KFG
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I have a "so lu" my sister-in-law brought me back from Thailand which is kind-of like an erhu but with the soundbox made out of a coconut, and on the back of the coconut facing the player is a jack lantern kind of face which I am told is supposed to be a cat.
(I don't take it to sessions!)
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Tish
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
"Has anyone ever tried to play ITM on a Hurdy Gurdy? Or seen someone? I"d get one and try but they start at like, $3,000.
It's OK for slides and polkas, In the band I frequently play a drone under the whistles or singers. Remember you have only 4 fingers on a linear scale the size of a viola. Most irish tunes take 1 1/2 octaves and jump 4th's and 5ths regularly. Not saying it can't be done, but it doesn't really sound right. "Atholl Highlanders " works pretty well, in spite of the down-arpeggios and the jumps in the third part.
The price IS a big hurdle, especially if you don't know whether you want to play or not. I made my first one, took about 6 months.
You might want to wallow around
http://www.hurdygurdy.com/index.htm
for an education
"Sure Far, I have one myself, made in Wales, but I only play a few tunes on it & I find that ITM, for me, just doesn't sound right on it, but French & Medieval music just sounds FAB!"
Made in Wales? Is it one of Chris Allen's?
http://www.luthiers60.freeserve.co.uk/
I'd give more credit where due but I can't even spell Sabina's last name right when I cut and paste.
.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Speaking of playing ITM on the hurdy-gurdy, I met a busker years ago who was playing Irish songs on the hurdy-gurdy in Luxemburg. He told me he was from Galway, where he had tried to play it at sessions, but the other musicians kept telling him to go away because it wasn't a traditionally Irish instrument. Once he asked the musicians where they were from, and it turned out they were Dutch, German, French, whatever - in other words, he was the only Irishman in the company but he was being told to go because he was not Irish enough...
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by flipdievleugelt
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
As regards 'Fil et Bobine', Ptarmigan, I haven't a clue what it means. I play French better than I speak it (but not a lot better though).
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by flipdievleugelt
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
"fil et bobine" I think it's "wire and wind" but don't quote me.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Owell, yes it is one of Chris & Sabina's, this one in fact:
http://www.luthiers60.freeserve.co.uk/morepicscolsonstandard.htm
[Aye - Chris Allen & Sabina Kormylo]
Hey, great story flipdievleugelt.
Boy but there are some real feckin eejits around, aren't there!
Doesn't matter about the name by the way, I'd probably forget it anyway & there's probably more chance that I'll remember the French one.
In keeping with the other recent theme of this thread though, I'm going to have a go at playing it on my Gurdy, first chance I get.
I'd say it'll sound braw!
Tish, the story of your instrument reminds me of that great we Kerry Slide - 'The Hair Fell off My Coconut'. I wonder did you ever try playing that tune on it?
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Thanks Owell, but I think you'll probably agree that 'Fil et Bobine' sounds much more interesting, than Wire & Wind - doesn't it?
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
I'll have to get that tune and hear it. Out here on the lone prairie, wire and wind can do some pretty strange things.
And there are so few French titles that go beyond geographical reference.
Chris and Sabina do nice work. I'm very proud for all 3 of you that you have one of theirs. I've been intending to e-mail him a joke, I'll mention you to him.
( That really didn't come out right did it?)
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
There was a lad, Chris/Paul ? Yates played hurdy gurdy in sessions up Lancaster way, late 70s early 80s. I first heard him as a flute player. Sadly he died all too young of a heart attack.
I think Big Mick Johnson did carve some fabulous heads in to the scrolls on fiddles. He had incredible hands for things like that.
Bx
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
What about this 'Crocodile-shaped Zither from Burma'. I'm sure it would cut a dash at your next session!:
http://www.usd.edu/smm/Beede4.html
"Out here on the lone prairie, wire and wind can do some pretty strange things." - Darn, blasted homesteaders still causin' you 'cowboys' some problems eh Owell?
Aye Brian, I seem to remember Chris telling me that there's a lady, in England I believe, who does brilliant carving work on Gurdys.
Sorry, I can't remember her name though.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
A lot of pipes from Estern Germany / Czechia/ Poland
http://www.dudelsack.at/egerlaender_bock.php
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by swisspiper
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Bodhran with celtic-knotted dogs.
A little cruel on the dogs - I must report them to the RSPCA.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Err, no actually, Ptarm, I haven't, but if you hum a few bars for me ... :-o
Actually, I'll keep it "on ice" till bb gets back home, if ever, and Dow and I can work up a polka duet on it with his new oud to welcome her back.
# Posted on November 25th 2005 by Tish
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
The Portuguese Rajao was traditionally carved to resemble a fish. Too bad I can't find any pictures on the i...net
# Posted on November 26th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Instruments with animals, or human, faces?
Luthier Bill Bussman, renowned for his sense of humor, has made several instruments with animal themes. Check out his bass guitar and some others:
http://www.zianet.com/bussmann/photo_fun.html
# Posted on November 27th 2005 by devellis