It ain't just for show! Or is it?

[poltr1]

Those who know me from the filk comunity know that I have one of the more unusual and eclectic instrument collections in all of filkdom. (At least I think so.)

Here's the rundown of what I've come to affectionally call "The Sonic Arsenal":
- Flute (Gemeinhardt)
- Clarinet (Normandy)
- Bass clarinet
- Alto saxophone (Martin)
- Native American flute
- Soprano Recorder
- Tin whistle(s)
- Various and sundry percussion devices
- Kazoo (a metal one, made in Eden, NY, kazoo capital of the world)
- Oberheim Synthesizer Expansion Module
- Moog Music Minimoog Model D (pictured above in the icon)


Some of you who've seen me in filk circles -- and rarer still, those who have ever heard me play -- may wonder why I don't play very often. First, it's tough for me to jump in and risk ticking off someone, whether it's a filk circle or a conversation. Second, I know I can too easily and inadvertantly step on or upstage other people's performances. Third, most pieces aren't built for solo lines with (or without) my instruments. And fourth, I'm not as good as a musician as I think I am. (The cure for which is: Practice, practice, practice.)

I had a great piece of wisdom from Joe Ellis, a filker who used to live local to me until he and his family moved to Florida. He said, "Why schlep the gear and pull it out if you're not going to use it?" It was a sobering point in my filk career. (Sidenote: Does anyone know if Joe is still active in the filk community? Or has he gafiated?)

Earlier this year, I brought a few of these to GaFilk 7. There I was in the corner (near a power socket) at open filk, with the woodwinds in a combo rack and the Moog on a stand in front of me, with an old boom box serving as my amp. Doing lots of listening, but getting to play much. I think I got to play my sax once, and the clarinet once. The bass clarinet is great for pedal tones, if I play quietly. The Moog got lots of attention, especially from Aaron, husband of joyeuse13 and electronic music aficionado.


I'm contemplating bringing the flute, the Native American flute, the bass clarinet, and the Minimoog to OVFF. The clarinet and alto sax will stay at home. Hopefully I'll get some playing time in sometime during the weekend.

It's not in the program, but who's interested in seeing and hearing a short (about 15 minute) demo of my Minimoog at OVFF? Yes, I love to show it off, like it's a classic car at a car show. However, I won't take the cover off so people can see "under the hood." Nothing there but 30-year-old circuit boards.

If I do give such a demo, it would have to be a birds-of-a-feather session, like when all the guitarists get together and show off their axes and/or play together. Problem is, there aren't that many keyboardists in filk that I know abuot. I can think of Joe, the late Lloyd Landa (I miss you, Lloyd!), edstauff, madfilkentist, quadrivium, and mrlogic.

Comments

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who just HAS to jump in if I've got an instrument handy... The best thing is just to step up and ask to join in. Don't wait for an invitation because they don't know what's what you want. If they have a set list and a specified performance time, they will tell you no. Otherwise, most jam sessions are fair game. You know musicians are a friendly, sharing bunch and don't mind other musicians approaching them - it's actually quite a compliment when someone asks you if they can sit in with you, it means they like what you are doing and want to contribute their own talents to the mix.

As for how good you are... I've discovered the secret is to ask the key, then pull out some good chordal progressions from it to improvise with. Middle Eastern music is minor/modal, so I use alot of suspended tones immediately resolving them, then return to a 5-7 note motif as a recapitulation of the original chordal progression I started with. Suspended tones are VERY useful outside of the ME sound, too. The whole dissonant/consonant thing makes it more interesting to listen to.

There, now you have my secret. ;o)

[poltr1]

If it were a jam session, yes, I'd jump in. But most filk circles have one player at a time, either bardic (strict rotation) or chaos (jumps around).

I really out to get you and SR to OVFF -- Ohio Valley Filk Fest -- this year.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

Let me check the schedule. If that weekend is open, I'll bring it up with Susan to see if she and David have an interest in playing that venue.

[poltr1]

And if the answer is yes, talk to braider.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Can you bass clarinet play the oompahs in the Dirt Woman Song?

[poltr1]

Yeah, I think so. Although I may have to go up an octave from what it sounds like on your MIDI file.

I can also play the theme from "The Addams Family", if other people snap their fingers. :)