From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <PaperMacheArt-AT-yahoogroups.com>, <PuppetCafe-AT-yahoogroups.com>,
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:33:47 -0400
Cc: 
Subject: [Puptcrit] Easy musical instruments


Hi all.
I stumbled across some interesting wooden and metal parts during my studio cleanup, and a mischievous Muse got me into making percussion instruments.

I though this might interest people who build their own puppet shows (and others)with live instruments.

All these options cost very little to no money!

1) Giant Claves
I just chose two low table legs, of varnished hardwood. (16 inches each)
Depending on how you hold and hit them, you have at least 6 different discernable sounds, from the very deep to the high pitch hit.
For looks and safety, I remeved the screws at the fat end.
Not only do these claves sound amazing (from very deep to very shallow-dry), the look great too, with their honey colored varnish (once I cleaned them up with a bit of alcohol)

2) "Triangles"
I had some twisted metal rods (sold as supports for carpets on staircases in the winter). I just cut them in half, then bent them at around a 90 degree angle.
I attached an elastic band at this elbow, to hold the triangle. The angle of the bend of the "triangle" changes the sound.
For fun, and to reduce the "dryness" of the sound, I made the mallet from a single piece of heavy gage wire, bent in half, then twisted on itself, and ending in a pitchfork. it looks like an oversised diapason.
Again, depending on how you hold and hit, many many sounds.
I still call them triangles, although it is just an inverted V. Gotta stay consistent.


3) Castagnette
I don't know how you call it in english. In French and Spanish, we call it that.
for a picture:http://web.tiscali.it/ciucciuettola/castagne.htm

A few weeks ago, I cut the bottoms of aluminum soft drink cans, and made castagnettes by linking them with Duct Tape, and making little nads to hold the fingers in place. Sounds nice. I intedn to take the time to replace the Duct tape by something less "crappy" looking, possibly braided thread.


My ears are very happy with the results, and I will put them on trial next saturday, whe I join a group a musicians for music in the park.





Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
www.creaturiste.com
(514) 274-8027
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org