Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Hoot!



I just signed off on what ought to be the last of Dexter Bexley & the Big Blue Beastie on the Road, and so am officially (though I have been for ages) full time on the TV show (except for everything else I have to do...)

Something that I've been experimenting with, and that I'm probably just about allowed to talk about on here, is the music for the show. I'm not certain that I will be doing the final recordings, but I'm playing with it for now. For the last year I've been learning to play the melodeon partially for this purpose (though I suspect I won't be good enough in time) and I have even commissioned a carpenter to make one strange but simple instrument for me.



Now, since a polyrythmic and african feel has been creeping into the music, I'm thinking of building myself something that resembles a Kora or Gambian harp, perhaps with influences from the Gravikord. Here are some very early and rough ideas, though I've just got hold of some wood that changes things already:




PS.
Pete, I drew this bagpipe from a photograph in a friend's record sleeve. Written above is the name of the man playing it (I couldn't find anything out about him). Do you know anything about these pipes? The broken line from one of the drone/chanters (they seem to do both) is a strap that goes around the player's neck, and there seems to be a third small drone/chanter at the front...

9 comments:

timaeus said...

I think this is some kind of zampogna though the strap is usually only on the really big ones (I mean really really big) Pasquale Feis is a tenor singer;
try here and other related videos; I bet the Recording you heard was the Where will you be on Christmas day one. Look through the video pictures till you get to the Marionette a planchette picture. For more zampognas look at this and related ones

timaeus said...

I haven't managed to look closely at your kora drawings but it looks fun; How about making me a tambour de Bearn while you're at it? (strung drum for playing with the tabor pipe)
like this one

love

p

Joel Stewart said...

Knew I could count on you for the info. Yes, that was the recording, well I assume so since it was a record of obscure christmas songs...

I'll have my work cut out with the Kora I reckon...

The top Kora drawings are closest to the design I'm thinking of now, possibly using a tunable bodhran as the drum, but with a dowel neck and quite a lot of modifications to the 24 button tailpiece.

Love
Joel

Unknown said...

I've probably said it before but, your job is right good.

Joel Stewart said...

I do agree, except at 10.30pm in a stuffy editing room, snorting from sinusitis and deeply worried that the task is just too big...

Unknown said...

STOP COMPLAINING.

Joel Stewart said...

Stopped.

anna said...

hi joel! this looks amazing! can i pop round and see it sometime? i can do that now - i live in new cross! x

Joel Stewart said...

Hello!
Yes, do you have my number? Rowan can give it to you. You can get here on the 149 bus from London Bridge. Dalston is now officially the trendiest place in the world, according to New York Vogue (so I heard), but don't let that put you off...