Don Wages and his Instruments
A gentleman had contacted me looking for an unusual Hammered Dulcimer – hoping to find an older instrument that was not the “run of the mill”. Turns out I had a 15/14 Round Family instrument. So, he arrives a half hour early, while I am still at the gym, resulting in a frantic call from my wife about a stranger who was supposed to meet me at the house. Fortunately he had his lovely wife with him, and all was ok by the time I got home and found them encamped on the sofa with instruments spread all around them.
The instrument on his lap is a Markophone. He played it a bit for us, but I fear I was not quick on the uptake, and didn’t record the sound. The beauty of this instrument is that you can either play the keys gently, at which point it just strikes the note, or you can play it harder, which produces the roll sound. Actually, it sounded quite nice played gently. And, if you are really coordinated you can strum on the strings to the bottom of the picture.
WHAT FUN!
Next he demonstrated his Ukelin’s – one tuned in C and the other in D as I recall. Check out the video of his playing!
Read MoreThe instrument on his lap is a Markophone. He played it a bit for us, but I fear I was not quick on the uptake, and didn’t record the sound. The beauty of this instrument is that you can either play the keys gently, at which point it just strikes the note, or you can play it harder, which produces the roll sound. Actually, it sounded quite nice played gently. And, if you are really coordinated you can strum on the strings to the bottom of the picture.
WHAT FUN!
Next he demonstrated his Ukelin’s – one tuned in C and the other in D as I recall. Check out the video of his playing!
