Other instruments (Don't throw things at me please!)

Nyghtshayde · Post by **Nyghtshayde** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:11 pm

Hi!

Long time no post! Yah?

(I moved, from Connecticut, to New york... Did alot of stuff there, worked, and moved back to Connecticut last month... thats my story and I'm stickin to it!)

I've even found my whistles! Yay! Now I'm relearning everything I learned before. -grin-

But.. here's my question....

I've been fascinated by Shawms.... (And Rackets! Those are so neat!) The ones I've found have been astronomical in price however.

For those of you more in the know than I, are there instruments that are more affordable to a beginner? Something that sounds similar?

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:41 pm

Clarke Originals.

Nyghtshayde · Post by **Nyghtshayde** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:51 pm

Noooo they arent -THAT- Buzzy..... Are they?

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:14 pm

My bad, I read that as Shaws not Shawms. My Black Diamond is pretty Reedy sounding, so is my Sweetheart Pro.

a.mellifera · Post by **a.mellifera** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:54 pm

You can find ethnic shawms, such as shanais, quite inexpensively at someplace like Lark in the Morning. You could also try Bombarde, and stay within the "Celtic" genre. These are also available at Lark in the Morning. I've seen them on ebay, too, but I have no idea of the quality those might be.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:56 pm

Those cheap ones are made in Pakistan and will cause more trouble than fun playing time.

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:07 am

You could try one of these

Plenty buzzy. Not nearly as loud as a bombard though[/list]

IDAwHOa · Post by **IDAwHOa** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:29 pm

http://irishflutestore.com/Hornpipe.html

Doc is great to work with too, if you did not already know.

Rod Sprague · Post by **Rod Sprague** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:33 pm

I’ve always like kazoos, myself. Would adding a merliton, basically an extra hole to a whistle with a kazoo style membrane, give it a buzzier tone without messing up its intonation? I would guess it would best be placed between the fipple and the fingering holes. Being frugal and a tinkerer, I would try my hand at making my own woodwinds my self.

Rod

preacher · Post by **preacher** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:56 pm

Also try Hobgoblin USA and Keilsheck sites(not sure of spelling here search under Susato if its wrong)

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:23 pm

Jon C. (a flutemaker who posts to the Flute Forum here) makes an
"Irish Oboe", which might be more affordable. They cost 250 British
Pounds last I asked, and had a waiting list. Here's the site:

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/calmontmusic/irishoboe.html

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:09 am

Hiya Nyghtshayde,

Don't be put-off. There are other enthusiasts of the double-reed about.

The Shawm is a natural precursor to every bagpipe - including the revered Uilleann pipes! Indeed, the very begrudged pakistani bombarde is much maligned and can be brought under control by a carefully crafted reed!

I am bound, one of these days, to explore the "Piston" which, suposedly is a bombarde in the key of D (incidently also the base key of the double-reeded orchestral oboe!).

the bore and slope of the bombarde is what gives it its open-sounding tone - that and the dimensions of the reed.

It has been said that the mighty and arcane tube dedicated to reed instruments (at many hundreds of dollars) are no more than fittings for the $2 reed. Alas it is true from oboe to bagpipe - retro-fitting a reed is a hard slope. My $20 Turkish Zurna is acompanied by a box of grass-clippings (river reeds) that I must learn to burn just-so with a lighted cigarette before I can bind them to the staple!.

Persist, endure! you will find the end!

chas · Post by **chas** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:48 am

The Early Music Shop ( http://www.e-m-s.com/ ) has reasonably priced kits. The rackett is pre-drilled, pretty much all you have to do is glue it together, finish it and put the bocal on. It appears as though they're doing some construction on their web page; the racketts aren't on the price list. Last I knew the kits were about 300-350 pounds. I've always loved the idea of a desktop bassoon. They have kits for shawms, crumhorns, etc, too.
.

Nyghtshayde · Post by **Nyghtshayde** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:28 am

Thank you all for the information!

The reason I ask is because I've just become fascinated with historical woodwinds.... I love the tinwhistle, don't get me wrong

I'm just looking to branch out a little bit. (That, and my husband winces anytime I play my whistle, unless its my Bb)

Theres a specific sound that I'm searching for, and I -think- the Shawm is what creates it, although I just am not quite sure. I'm also looking into the rauschepfife, trying to find sound clips of it, as I've heard this might be what I'm looking for....

I'll take a look at those sites and see what they've got. Thanks again!!!!!!

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:40 am

I have a shawm tucked away in an old case, fruitwood, two keys if I remember well. Ready to go, price probably in the 300 euro range. Sound approaches the crumhorn (using the saem make plastic reed)