The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #155538   Message #3659778
Posted By: GUEST,Claire
12-Sep-14 - 07:34 PM
Thread Name: bowed psaltery layout
Subject: RE: bowed psaltery layout
Thanks for the kind words, Bob. I found myself trying various techniques in order to create more sustain on my notes, so the quest for speed with the bowed psaltery is not really high on my list - don't know if I'd ever want to play fast enough to play with die-hard fiddlers.   Here is a link to my version of Jay Ungar's Lovers' Waltz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuJxeaOrBp8

I started out with plastic-haired bows because they seemed more mellow, but I'm now playing with Rick Long's horsehair bows and love the sound.

If you want to see speed and accuracy, you can't do better (from what I've seen) than Ms. Nozomi Nose - here's a link to her "Whiskey Before Breakfast."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOYE5AEkd0U

My duo partner Hank and I like using the psaltery on a variety of styles - swing, standards, fiddle tunes, folk ballads. Cognizant of the effect it can have on dogs and cats and sometimes hearing aids, we use it sparingly in performances.