billkilpatrick
Oud Junkie
Posts: 563
Registered: 1-3-2004
Location: italy
Member Is Offline
Mood: what?
|
|
porcupine quills, rattlesnakes & rosettes
two things -
1 - thanks to information supplied by vkioulaphides on the mandolincafe site, i split open a porcupine quill in the manner prescribed for a quill
and discovered it makes a pretty good plectrum. i haven't soaked it in olive oil yet (the piece i used was left-over from the 1st, failed
experiment) but i'm sure it will perform pretty much like a birds quill.
2 - much more interesting and way bizarre: check out this entry on ebay in the us: RATTLESNAKE RATTLE W/7 SEG FIDDLE VIOLIN Item number:
3718406477. this guy claims that by inserting a rattlesnake rattle inside your instrument you can increase its resonance. apparently, some fiddle
and bluegrass mandolin players have done this as it's also a way to ward off evil spirits. naturally, i was sceptical but it just seems so
completely off the wall that i'll probably give it a try.
and...with a rattlesnake rattle rattling around in my oud, i'll be asserting it's "new world" indentity away from arab, "old
world" musical tradition.
don't tread on me - bill
|
|
|
LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
|
|
Porcupine Rishas
hmm... now lets see, where can I find a porcupine quill for my next risha experiments?
Rattlesnake rattle resonance enhancer? I don't know about that... maybe... but couldn't we come up with a more middle eastern snake – hey,
how about asp fang rishas...! 
|
|
|
billkilpatrick
Oud Junkie
Posts: 563
Registered: 1-3-2004
Location: italy
Member Is Offline
Mood: what?
|
|
on the
http://www.mandolincafe.com/
site, in the "classical, medieval/renaissance" section of the message board, alex has posted two illustrated items which show how to make
cherrywood plectrum.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbprobrown/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
