poltr1 | It ain't just for show! Or is it?

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.