How to Make a Carrot Ocarina

For those of you who like playing with your food and making music, why not make music with your food? Lol!

Merry Christmas (with some broccoli)

Four days late, but I just came across this, so Blessed Christmas anyway! :)

Quena Headjoint for Boehm Flute??

Ok. This must be the strangest thing I've seen recently, and yet it makes me go: "Now why didn't I think of it?" The end-blown headjoint at 1:00 of the video is from the South American quena flute. Makes me wonder what other types of headjoints can be attached to a Boehm flute. How about the Chinese bawu flute head, or some single or double reeds? Hmm...



In case you're interested in getting a quena headjoint, here's where you can get it: http://www.educci.de/gb_index.html

Eigenharp

If you think this is a guitar fingerboard with a mouthpiece, think again. Those are not frets and strings. Those are keys! Check this new instrument out at http://www.eigenlabs.com/!

I Want One of These!! (the flute, I mean)

Be Thou My Vision in Gaelic!!

Can't believe I found this. My all time favourite hymn in its original language, and some explanation of its history:



Here are the the Irish lyrics if you can read them:


Gaelic adaptation of 'Be Thou my Vision' by Hugh Brennan
Sung by Máire Brennan

Bí Thusa mo shúile a
Rí mhór na ndúil
Líon thusa mo bheatha mo
Chéadfaí ‘s mo stuaim
Bí thusa i m’aigne
Gach oiche ‘s gach lá
Im chodladh no im dhúiseacht
Líon mé le do grá

Bí thusa mo threorú I mbriathar
Is i mbeart
Fan thusa go deo liom
Is coinnigh mé ceart
Glac cúram mar Athair
Is éist le mo ghuí
Is tabhair domsa áit cónaí
Istigh i do chroí

Be my eyes, O king of creation
Fill my life with understanding
And patience
Will You be my mind every night
And every day
Sleeping or awake
Fill me with Your love

Will You be my guidance
In my words and actions
Stay with me forever
And keep me on the right path
As my Father take care of me
And listen to my prayers
And give me a place
To live inside Your heart

(English translation by Adodh O Dugain)




On another note, I found this at another website. The translation looks very different, but since I can't read it, I'm not sure what the translation means. It's apparently and old form of Irish:

Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:
ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.
Rop tú mo scrútain i l-ló 's i n-aidche;
rop tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.

Rop tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu;
rop tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu.
Rop tussu m'athair, rob mé do mac-su;
rop tussu lem-sa, rob misse lat-su.

Rop tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb;
rop tussu m'ordan, rop tussu m'airer.
Rop tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen;
rop tú nom-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.

Rop tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain;
rop tú mo flaithius i n-nim 's i talmain.
Rop tussu t' áenur sainserc mo chride;
ní rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.

Co talla forum, ré n-dul it láma,
mo chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda.
Rop tussu t' áenur m' urrann úais amra:
ní chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.

Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul,
mar marb oc brénad, ar t' fégad t' áenur.
Do serc im anmain, do grád im chride,
tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.

Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime,
do serc im anmain, do grád im chride.
Go Ríg na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire;
ro béo i flaith nime i n-gile gréine

A Athair inmain, cluinte mo núall-sa:
mithig (mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.
A Chríst mo chride, cip ed dom-aire,
a Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile.

From http://www.be-thou-my-vision.com/celtic_be_thou_my_vision_old_irish_words.html

More info at http://www.be-thou-my-vision.com/

I Have A Shelter

I Have a Shelter by Sovereign Grace Ministries:

Foundations for Worship - FREE MP3 set download

I just happened to come across an audio CD MP3 dowload set on the topic of Foundations for Worship. The speaker is Bob Kauflin from Sovereign Grace Ministries, author of the book (and blog) Worship Matters. I just finished reading his book a few days ago and it has been deeply impacting. It has also revolutionized my concept of congregational worship.

The contents of the MP3 set are:

1. Worship: What Really Matters
2. Building a Worshiping Community
3. The Worship Leader's Role
4. Why Do We Sing?
5. Leading and Feeding Your Team
6. Heart Attitudes for the Worship Team
7. Worship Leading and the Prophetic Gifts
8. Closing the Gap: Pastors and Worship Leaders

Best part of all is that the downloads are completely FREE.

You can download the MP3 set here:
http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1310-00-51

Worship Song List (1)

Random post.

Was humming to myself at the bus stop and ended up coming up with a song list for a short worship session. Not that I lead worship or anything, but it's fun to think of these things sometimes :)

1) Intro - "Before we can understand who we are in Jesus, we first need to understand who we are not." - Casting Crowns

2) Who Am I - Casting Crowns

3) Holy, holy, holy (follow immediately from 1 after a few bars)

4) Reading of Scripture and short exhortation - Isaiah 6:1-5

5) Bow the Knee - Wilds

6) Short exhortation - We can only stand before God in Christ

7) In Christ Alone - Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

8) The Solid Rock

9) Close

Probably should have a song or Scripture before (1), maybe from or relating to Psalm 8.

Anyway, that's all for now ;)

Worship Matters

I recently purchased a set of MP3s that a friend told me about of a worship session in a pastor's conference. It's a live recording, and apparently not pre-planned (the recording, that is). But hearing the congregation sing was rousing! I browsed around and came across a book written by the worship leader/pianist of that session, Bob Kauflin. After reading the first 4 chapters, I can only say a hearty "amen" to what he has written. And a quick search revealed his own blog.

Just wanted to share these resources with those involved in worship ministry. The book is free to read online (though you can purchase it if you want), and his blog shares his thoughts on many different topics regarding worship. Hope you'll be blessed by them.

Online Book: http://www.crossway.org/product/9781581348248/browse

Bob Kauflin's Blog: http://www.worshipmatters.com

Praise You In This Storm

This song struck a chord somehow. I like the lyrics.



Praise You In This Storm
by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Super Lightweight Boehm Flutes

I wanted to say 'plastic', but nobody knows the secret formula composite material used to make these things. It's called Grenaditte, and it looks and feels like some kind of polymer. I came across them while paying a music school a visit (which happens to be the only place in Singapore that sells Irish whistles, but only Susatos).

It took a bit of searching, but I finally found some information (and videos!) of these flutes on the web. Check 'em out!





Grenaditte Flute Review @ Chiff and Fipple: http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewtopic.php?p=657112

Oh, and I'm told they retail for over $2000 SGD. They're good flutes, I'm told, but I don't have enough experience to appreciate them yet.

DidgeriFlutes?

People have asked me before if didgeridoos can play different tones. Well, I guess they can if you consider the hoots as a different tone. In fact if you're a brass player you may be able to get several tones by tightening your lips more when you blow. But that's not how you play the didge anyway. They are essentially monotone instruments - until now.

Introducing the Didj Flute!

Created by Marko Johnson, these modified didgeridoos have tone holes! Well, actually they are Didjboxes (also his creations) with tone holes. Didjboxes are compact didgeridoos (I have no idea how he makes them to have that low pitch at such a size. Maybe he winds the air column inside the box).

Anyway, so as to not keep you waiting, here's the link:

http://www.didjbox.com/flute.php

And here are some sound samples:

http://www.didjbox.com/soundclips.php

There-What??

Theremin! Sounds like some vitamin or mineral? Think again. It's a musical instrument that I just got to know about from a friend. Not your conventional instrument with pipes, strings, skins or those things. It's more like air guitar - with sound! (not guitar sound of course) Or maybe a better description would be making music on TV antennae. And to think it was invented in 1920!

Check out the following post on Wikipedia and the YouTube video!

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

Roaring Bulls!

Just got inspired to post something about an aborigine communication device called the bullroarer. It doesn't have anything to do with bulls or roaring, and I'm not even sure if it can be called an instrument. But here it is anyway.

So what's a bullroarer? Very simply, it's just a block of wood tied to a length of string. How do you use it? Easy! Just swing it around! But be careful where you swing those things!

Some video clips:



And something funny to lighten things up:



And if those are too small, check this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnVUlx_NegY&feature=related

Do You Kazoo?

Haven't been blogging for a really long time (except for my art blog). I finally managed to take photographs of all of my musical instruments. Unfortunately some of them turned out blur and would need some reshoots. But for those that are sharp enough, they'll go on the blog first.

Today, I'd like to introduce one of my toys. Well, I consider it a toy rather than a serious instrument (though there are probably some who would beg to differ). It's called a Kazoo, and it's a type of wind instrument. These things are available in Singapore. At least a couple of shops in Bras Basah sell them for just a couple of dollars.

Construction
The body of the Kazoo is conical, and open at both ends. In the middle is a resonator where there is a membrane covering a hole, somewhat like the membrane hole on the Chinese bamboo flute (dizi). This gives the Kazoo its buzzing sound.

Playing Method
If you blow into the Kazoo, you get.... NO SOUND! That's right. You don't blow into the thing. You have to vocalize. That means you hum, sing, or speak. There has to be some sound (coming from your voice box) for the Kazoo to work with. So vocalize into the end with the bigger hole. It's that simple

Videos
Check these videos out!

How to Play the Kazoo


Somewhere Over the Rainbow on the Kazoo


More information on the Kazoo can be obtained from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazoo

My PVC Flutes

I've been trying out Doug Tipple's instructions on making PVC Irish flutes, and have tried my hand at 4 pieces so far with slight modifications on 2 of them. One of the flutes was made with a detachable lip-plate and additional end holes and a membrane hole for a flute-dizi conversion. The other one had a lip-plate and end holes to stabilize the upper register.

The tuning seems to be rather flat for me, and I just got myself some more PVC pipe to try some new stuff, namely making tunable flutes with some copper tubing for tuning slides, and spray paint for decor purposes. I also want to try making an E-flat and perhaps an E flute as well.

If you're wondering what inspired me to make my own flutes, it's actually very simple - budget. I spent less than 20 SGD on materials today, which would make me 5-6 flutes. I'd spend the 100 USD on one of Doug's, but that's gonna have to be after I secure a more stable source of income (perhaps from selling flutes??).

Will post some pictures of them soon once I finish the new ones!

The Parable of the Flute

I wrote about Erik the Flutemaker some time back. I just came across a message given by him titled the Parable of the Flute. It's a great message, and Erik has a great personality to bring it out. Here are the videos:

Part 1


Part 2


Check out his Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/theflutemaker