patheslip - 9-21-2008 at 09:32 AM
I know that cherry bark picks are used for some Near Eastern Instruments. Could it work for an oud? I'm clearing some young trees (Prunus avium) and
wonder if I could make some picks from the bark. Any ideas anyone?
(I posted this query in another slot but hope it might get noticed here.)
Arto - 10-1-2008 at 10:37 AM
Dear Patheslip,
I know nothing about cherry plectrums used in oriental music, but here is some information about them in playing antique gut-strung mandolins. This if
from Mandolin Cafe and the writer is Alex Timmerman, who knows more about historical mandolins and their playing techniques than maybe anybody.
Besides being a guitarist, mandolinist, music educator, mandolin orchestra leader and extremely nice man.
Cherry "bark" plectrum is a misnomer, possibly a translation error. The plectrums are made of cherry wood, of rather thin twigs, not from the bark
itself. Alex tackles this nomenclature mess in some other posts of his, I try to find them if you are interested. But here are pictures:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=6;t=1491...
best wishes, Arto
Peyman - 10-1-2008 at 10:44 AM
I know they use them for robabs but never heard of them being used on ouds.
Arto - 10-1-2008 at 10:48 AM
Here´s some more, a drawing that is maybe clearer than the photos above. Scroll down:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=6b2e9b36313a767...
Butrous - 10-2-2008 at 07:54 AM
The Aleppian oud player Alsiadi uses a similiar size and shaped plectrum made of bone.
patheslip - 11-8-2008 at 03:57 PM
Thanks Arto, the trees have been slabbed and stacked up for a table I'll make next year. There are bound to be lots of pieces left for plectrums.
(note to self : wood not bark)