| |
|
|
| |
things that make Chasmic sounds... |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is a classic Vietnamese
percussion instrument known as a Danmo. Its
hand carved from the highly resonant Jack Fruit tree and consists
of a wooden stand, five tuned temple blocks and four tone blocks
with scrapers (maker unknown). The unique sound is produced
with two double-ended mallets. (kind of looks like Dr. Seuss
was in 'Nam) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is a Deagan 330R Marimba
(USA), a percussion instrument played with mallets. Actually,
it's a xylophone with wood bars (mahogany) instead of the more
common metal bars which are used with the vibraphone. The marimba
originally came to the Americas from Africa through the slave
trade in the Caribbean. Most African marimbas are tuned to a
pentatonic scale. This however is a 2.5 octave chromatic version
developed in the early 1900's in the United States using resonating
tubes below the bars (not shown), instead of the traditional
gourds, patented by Deagan of Chicago, IL. This particular one
was built sometime in the 1940's. It still has perfect pitch!
(For an assortment of over-the-top marimbas, check out the famous
atonal composer Harry
Partch to see what he created... ) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
These
are bamboo hand chimes known as Angklungs, another Vietnamese percussion
instrument. The two pictured here are tuned to "C" and
"A", each with two bamboo tubes tuned in octaves. These are just part
of an entire set of eight. Originally Vietnamese farmers fastened them to bamboo
polls and placed them around their fields. As the wind rattled the chimes, birds
were scared away from eating their crops. In other words, they were used
as "musical scarecrows".
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is what's known as a Chime
Tree. It suspends Bamboo Wind Chimes
from the Philippines & Cameroon; Brass Wind Chimes
from China; and Brass Temple & Elephant Bells
from India. The bamboo rack was originally used for hanging
shirts at a now defunct Hawaiian gift shop. When the shop folded,
rack was sold for a song. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is Arne Anselm’s
Double Bass Violin or Upright Acoustic Bass
made in Czechoslovakia by Juzek sometime in the 1930's before
the German invasion. This bass immigrated to the United States
and labored in Northern California symphony halls before semi-retirement
in Ventura.
Stats: 3/4 Juzek; 40 3/4" string length; Thomastik Spirocore
medium strings. Arne has been playing with Chasm since 2001.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Here are some nylon stringed
instruments used in Chasm's music. From L-R: a cheap Chinese
made Soprano Ukulele that has a lovable "trashy"
sound (maker unknown); Baritone Ukulele made
by Maholo, USA; Craviola Classical Guitar made
by Giannini of Brazil; and a German made Lute-Guitar
or Luitar from the early 1900's (maker unknown).
Mark purchased this luitar in 1985 from a woman who bought it
at an auction from the German embassy in Washington, DC in 1946.
Although he had the money she was asking for it, she insisted
on interviewing him over tea to decide if he was worthy of taking
custody of her "child." As part of the interview she
ask him to play it. He performed a 16th century Scottish ballad,
The Miller of Dee. After this the deal was sealed. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Pictured here are the two most
common flutes used in Chasm’s music. Top: Armstrong Concert
Flute or C-Flute. Bottom: Gemienhardt
Alto Flute. Both flutes made in USA. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Derek Thomas is shown here playing
Congas made by Meinl of Germany and Bongos
made by LP / Latin Percussion of USA. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is an assortment of instruments
from Mike’s living room wall that have been used in Chasm
recordings. From the top counter-clockwise: African Bamboo
Flute with dangling chimes (country unknown); Indonesian
Bamboo Drum (maker unknown); African Balafon,
a 2 octave pentatonic "mini-marimba" (maker/country
unknown); hanging Indian Temple Bells; African
Double Tambourine (maker/country unknown);
Alto Recorder by Gill of Israel; Soprano
Recorder by Kung of Switzerland; Sopranino
Recorder (maker/country unknown). |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Additional instruments from
Mike’s living room wall. From L-R: decorative bamboo;
Indonesian Bamboo Mouth Organ (maker unknown),
blown sideways, sounds somewhat like a harmonica; Tenor
Recorder by Kung of Switzerland. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Assorted percussion L-R top
row: maracas, goat hooves, vibra-slap, cowbells;
center row: rain shaker, nutshell shaker, claves, castanet
shaker; bottom row: finger cymbals, assorted
shaker (4), a-go-go-bells, guiro, & groove block. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This is a Cicada Jar,
a name coined by Chasm's sound engineer, John Perez. It's a
wine decanter filled with air rifle B-B's. When shaken in a
circular motion it creates the sound of a thousand chirping
cicadas. This is a homemade instrument created through Mark's
aural experiments. |
|
| |
|
|
Music Samples 
