The theme for this week's edition is found instruments. Found instruments are objects that are used to produce sounds or music in a way that subverts the objects' originally intended purpose.
In the next few weeks, we'll be posting a "Found Instrument of the Week" on our Facebook page, so be sure to check back or chime in with your own. Maybe you've discovered a household object that doubles as a good musical instrument, or maybe you've stumbled upon some bands that use some creative objects for rhythms or melodies.
Aside from being an interesting diversion, found instruments are more common than one might think, and without them music wouldn't be the same. Here's a little example to demonstrate found instruments in action:
In addition to our videos and links relating to the topic, we also have our usual calendar of music events and a local artist spotlight. Enjoy!
LOCAL ARTISTS
Michael Reisman got his start as a musician in West Palm Beach, but considers Panama City the place in which he really spread his wings. Michael was co-founder of the Orchestra of St. Andrew Bay (now the Panama City Pops) and was a staple of the local music community as both a teacher and mentor to many young musicians. When asked to choose his favorite instrument, his reply was, "The one that I'm holding at the moment." Michael is a voracious learner. Both a proficient violinist and violist in numerous styles, he has gone on to become an instructor of both bass and cello, and he has branched out into woodwinds as well, playing and teaching both clarinet and saxophone.
Currently he serves as a full-time instructor for Star Music Academy in Columbia, SC, where he teaches bowed strings, keyboards, and single reeds. He is also the Concertmaster of Columbia's Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra.
When asked about found instruments, Michael said, "I once found a viola bow on my car. I never did learn where it came from but someone left it there for me."
But Michael has had some experience with the other kind as well. At one point he decided to make an instrument out of clay pots. He went around to different nurseries and had enough to pots to span an octave and a half, but never could find enough to fill in the whole chromatic range. He has found himself collecting numerous sizes of branches and wood that makes an interesting sound when struck.
"I've always been interest in found sound, whether it was a bird call, the clack of a wooden wind chime, or the creak of a door. I never recorded them but certain sounds catch my ear regularly."
Michael offers the following points as advice for young musicians:
Four essentials in music study:
1 - The ability to sight-read (Get a private teacher to take you through this).
2 - The ability to be disciplined enough to practice regularly (by yourself).
3 - Learn as much music theory as possible (a teacher can help with this, too).
4 - Play with the best ensemble (group) you can.
Michael cites the following artists as influences: Cannonball Adderly, Guillaume de Machaut, Alfonso X of Castile and Leon, Eric Satie, and the Emerald Coast's own composer/conductor David Ott (who has just finished an opera commissioned by the Pensacola Opera, which will be performed at the Marina Civic on October 4-see below).
Feel free to meet Michael on Facebook. He's a phenomenal musician and gifted teacher, and is always learning and teaching something new.
LOCAL EVENTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 - Massalina Cargo at Trigo Cafe and Bakery
6:00pm at Trigo Cafe and Bakery
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - Rhythm and Hues Cruise
Blues and jazz by the EdMo Project and art by Michael McCarty.
3:00 - 5:00 at Destin's Sunquest Cruises.
$55
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 - The Carolinas, Lilywhite and The Cries Of
The Axis Venue at 6:30 p.m.
$5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 - The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve
Marina Civic Center at 7:30 p.m.
FREE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 - David Ott and The Pensacola Opera perform The Widow's Lantern.
Marina Civic Center at 2:00 p.m.
$15 - adults, $12 - military, $7 - students.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 - Cirque Dreams Illuminations
Marina Civic Center at 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 - Open Mic Night at the Rabbit Hole
7:00pm at The Rabbit Hole
FREE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 - The Panama City Pops first concert: Anything Goes.
Arnold High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
$25-adult, $20-sr./military, $10-children under 12.
Jazz Jam at the Granite Cafe
Every Wednesday
The Granite Cafe (on the corner of Beck Ave and 10th St. in St. Andrews)
6 - 10 pm
FREE
Bring an instrument and a bit of rhythm and join the jam!
FOUND INSTRUMENTS ON VIDEO
There are so many videos on the web dealing with found instruments that we have decided to post a "Found Instrument of the Week" on Facebook. Here is a small sampling of our finds so far:
* Tic-Tac Symphony.
* James Houston's Rendition of Big Ideas (Don't Get Any) by Radiohead. Okay, let me explain. Radiohead issued a challenge to take their song Big Ideas... and remix it. Houston decided to make a video showing antiquated electronic equipment that had "Big Ideas" of covering Radiohead's Song. It takes a bit to get going, but it really is a masterpiece of mixing and production.
* A bit more traditional, but no less amazing. I never knew the old wine glass trick could sound like this: Czech Glass Harpist.
* This gadget analyzes sound patterns and attempts to duplicate them with found instruments. In this case, the machine analyzes dialogue from a scene in Citizen Kane and tries to duplicate it. The results could be considered the basis of a musical idea: All My Candy.
FOUND INSTRUMENTS ON THE WEB
* The nice thing about found instruments is that they can be a real cost-saver when you're in a pinch, but still want to get your kids interested in music, or maybe you just feel like banging on something cheap. Check out the Homemade Percussion and Junk Music Site for some ideas.
* Paul Rudolph is a member of GLANK, which is a found instrument/percussion ensemble. Think Stomp with space-suit-looking costumes. He has an interesting picture collection featuring all manner of strange found instruments from circular saws and propane tanks to sheet metal and transmission parts.
* Speaking of car parts, Tan Dun featured brake drums in his much touted Internet Symphony No. 1 'Eroica' for the Youtube Symphony.
OTHER LINKS/NEWS
* Chris Godber has been featured on a prominent online Smooth Jazz Radio Show. Check him playing in the same queue with famous saxophonists at Mevio's Smooth Jazz Sax Show.
* The News Herald and Pineapple Willy's are putting on a contest called The Panhandle's Got Talent. All proceeds will benefit the News Herald's Newspaper In Education Program. Entry requirements include a 2-minute self-made, unaltered video and a $5 entry fee. Register online at www.newsherald.com/gottalent. The deadline for all entries is October 11.
* So Lynyrd Skynyrd has a new album, and I think the name says it all: God and Guns. The single "Simple Life" is more country than Skynyrd, and so achingly pleading in its attempt to become a part of Americana that it won't ever get there, but maybe this new album will cause cover bands to look back through Skynyrd's catalog and realize that they did have more than one song. What I wouldn't give to hear Gimme Three Steps every once in a while in lieu of Sweet Home Alabama. Am I the only one that thinks a Sweet Home Alabama fast is a good idea? Not retiring the song, mind you, just letting the thing put its feet up for a while. I mean, it's a wonder the song can still walk at all after Kid Rock's homage.
* The Odd Music Gallery is a great site featuring information on instruments that will be unfamiliar to most readers. While not all of them are found instruments, they are unusual. Some standouts include:
- The Aeolian Wind Harp-The wind plays it!
- The World's Largest Instrument
- The Pencilina - The perfect recipe for a one man band.
TOTALLY RANDOM
* This one actually has a very relevant tie to today's posting, but you'll have to watch it to find out what it is. It's like Where's Waldo...except you don't know what you're looking for, but if you look long enough...you'll get it: Amber Pacific - Fall Back Into My Life
Well, that's all for this week. Thanks for reading!
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