We know the moment when we graduate from the music conservatory…
Shortly after, we face a problem, a situation that will last for longer: what about all the instruments we need, in order to perform music. The education time at the conservatory is over, the cosiness of percussion department (if you’ve experienced one) is a memory of paradise. There was always a choice whether this Pai Gu should be used, or rather that O-Daiko. Should I make an ordinary set-up or be more sophisticated? “I just take all this to the concert hall. It’s for me to use!” Now, there is an issue of “where and what to play”, but this may eventually begin solving itself, as soon as we are back to practicing. First, give me an instrument, please!
One can find it very frustrating, another one a positively stimulating, not to say entertaining process. Process of building own instrumentation. But for sure, it’s extremely absorbing and time consuming. Obviously, we start this process much earlier, but until now there was never need to worry about having instruments available anyway, thanks to the school environment. I know, I naturally refer to Copenhagen, not Gdańsk (for example) 🙂
But OK! I’m not to expand this question. I am about to say that when it is difficult to purchase an instrument coming from Bali for instance, make one yourself…it will come from, let’s say, Rzeszów!
I am trying this, and it is somehow more of a fun than ordering at Thomann or Steveweiss. Yes, spending money is cool, but how about spending very little and creating beautiful item at home? Even a very, very simple one.
I think, it makes multi-percussion more personal, even more diversified and intimate, so to speak. If I create another level of connection, make new, old and home made stuff juxtaposed, music can evolve. So it can happen as well as when creating a completely new sounding object.
I’m not claiming that this is Art of any kind. It’s just a simple handicraft. We can develop as musicians by many ways. This is one of them. Without philosophising…
Here is some music:
…as far as I am familiar with percussion – it’s the only example of composed piece, where Ceng-Ceng Ricik is used…so far at least 🙂
Aleksander Wnuk 