Help: un favorite instruments

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: tradman
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 11:00 AM

All of those Buda CD's are available in MP3 format from Emusic. A month's subscription ($20) is enough time for you to download the entire lot.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 10:43 PM

Tradman, I didn't know the Chuckchi had any string instruments...Cool. There's a cd of their music (on a cd with Even and Yukaghir music) also on Buda, but I don't have it yet, so I'm not sure if there's any instrumental stuff on it. Buda has out several cds of Siberian music, if you're interested. I am, but I'm a nerd... 8CB~

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 02:51 PM

Any instrument can become an un-favorite! Just remove the soul of its player, or play it without confidence, or play it while you wish you were somewhere else... All instruments have their time and place, and often it it precisely the time and the place that is irritating/missed. Too much touting and not enough practicing/passion can make a villan out of the most lovely instrument...

'Les Pauls' were the industry standard for many years. I hated them and would not go near them... way too heavy, trademark "Zepplin" sound, clitche ridden. I played an ES150, and I loved it till I was bored with electric guitar... It was the most "acoustic electric" I could find, and the warmth of tone was made famous by Pat Metheny (who played a comparable ES175)... Electric guitar is my most unfavorite instrument now... I consider it the "sell out standard", the hit parade banner.ttr

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 02:06 PM

Thread Creep!

Mousethief, you mentioned Bach's Tocatta and Fugue In D Minor on an organ. Brought this experience to mind.

Back in the 70's I had a girlfriend who lived in Connecticut. I was in the Navy and stopped by to visit on my way home for Christmas. She led me up to the church where she played the pipe organ. It was dark and the only light in the place was the light on her music. She played that piece into the empty church and the goosebumps crawled up my spine. When she finished we stood together in the empty church listening to the evening when the bells in the steeple began to ring out a Christmas carol. I could feel her shiver as she stepped close to me and said, "There isn't anyone else here, they shouldn't be ringing!" My goosebumps now had goosbumps of their own.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,CraigS
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 02:02 PM

There's a lot of instruments that only sound good when played well. The easiest instrument to sound bad on is the Sarod, which is to the Sitar as the banjo is to the guitar. Incidentally, I own three banjos, but I never play them in public (Spaw might be around !-)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: tradman
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 01:16 PM

Thanks Lepus, The Yakutia album is available on MP3's through Emusic (by far the best internet subscription I've ever made). After listening to the painful fiddle playing, I would guess that it's the player and not the instrument which makes this particular music so unfortunate. One string fiddles (guslas) are played quite beautifully in Bosnia and Montenegro, and I have a friend who assures me that Chukche one-stringed fiddle music is also quite listenable.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 02:04 PM

Make that "Ilija Mikhaïlovič Neust*R*oev-Yrda Yldaa." ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 02:02 PM

Yup, tradman, people HATE zurnas. (Now that I think about it, I believe Uzbeks call them 'surnai' or something, but it's the same word, really. They've got serunais in Malaysia, Suonas in China, Zurnas in Turkey, shenais in India, etc...) People give me 'I hope you die' type looks when I drive by them blasting that stuff out of my car... Muaha.

And kyrympa music... I'd really like to hear more of it, because I'm sure it's not all as bad as some of the stuff I've heard, but the cd I've got is called 'Yakutia: Epics and Improvisations' on Buda Records. Almost forgot: There's also some kyryympa (This cd added an extra 'y') on track 14 of the cd 'Tuva, Among the Spirits---Sound, Music, and Nature in Sakha and Tuva' on Smithsonian/Folkways, where it's not annoying at all. So it must only be the playing of Ilija Mikhaïlovič Neustoev-Yrda Yldaa that hurts me so!

Ah, and here's a zurna FAQ with some info, links and pictures, for anyone who wants to know. >:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: tradman
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 01:23 PM

Uzbeki zurna... sounds like it would be great to me (-: When I'm playing ethnic music examples for other folks, Macedonian zurna makes more people cringe than ANYTHING else. Haven't heard the 'kyrympa' fiddle yet though. Any recordings?

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 12:00 PM

There aren't really any instruments I HATE. The only one instrument that I can think of that I really can't listen to in the 'kyrympa' fiddle of the Sakha people, of Siberia. The only solo recordings I've got of it being played make me physically ill. My back starts to hurt, I feel like I'm going to throw up, I get a headache... Very strange. Nothing else bothers me like that. (Maybe it does---Mariah Carrey?)

But I LOVE hurdy-gurdies, accordions, bagpipes, shawms of all kinds, AND the sound of Mongolian women singing. Someone here must hate THAT one. I KNOW my roomate does. :)

Come over to my place if you hate hurdy-gurdies. I'll have you BEGGING to listen them after FIVE pain-filled minutes listening to zurna-playing Uzbek sadists! Muahahahaha...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: IvanB
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 04:13 PM

CarolC, in addition to folk, I also love medieval and renaissance music, so I'm certainly thinking mostly in the context of early music played on those instruments, but I've heard most of them used as backups for folk music at one time or another. And I even had an old album (vinyl) of rock music using, among other instruments, bagpipes and a hurdy-gurdy. And the bombarde probably bears more resemblance to the shawm than it does to any modern instrument.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 12:56 AM

IvanB,

...crumhorns, racketts, theorba, raushchpfeifen...you're singing my song.

Are you talking about the instruments you mentioned in the context of playing early music on them, or are people using them now for more recent compositions?

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:03 PM

Actually Matt, I've noticed the practitioners referred to as musicians so that confuses me somewhat. We DID have needle scratches and were conditioned to dislike the noise because it got in the way of the music. As for generational bias, perhaps excessiveness in noise (sorry, sound effects) appreciation is a quality my generation (or at least me) has been spared. IMHO some noise is musical and some isn't.

And for the record, if it was true that my generation didn't have something (and since I ain't dead yet it's still my generation), it would not have anything to do with me liking it.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: richlmo
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:39 PM

We had needle-scratches, but it was a BAD thing!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:35 PM

Yes, I'm serious, Mooh. And you're right, it's NOT a musical instrument. It's a sound effect. Sound effects are good. My generation likes needle-scratches. Your generation didn't have them yet...no wonder you don't like it!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:27 PM

I never cared for the Jews Hasrp either , until I heard Bob Zentz actually play a recognizable tune on one.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: P05139
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:20 PM

I know that this isn't strictly speaking an instrument, but when I was doing my GCSE Music exam, I had to listen to some absolutely TERRIBLE "music" that consisted of some people going, "Awaiwjduwqosdjiwodhocneihfiwohomwghwo" Well at least thats what it sounded like. Apparantly it's African, but it sounded like a cat being strangled mixed with a goat mixed with a sheep in labour!! I'm not joking, that's what it sounded like!!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: richlmo
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:01 PM

I never quite got the jug in Jug Bands or the "Jews Harp". Just noise and a beat. Just like anything to do with "Rap"! How anyone could consider that music is beyond me. The turntable noise is just that, Noise!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: IvanB
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 08:36 PM

I dislike most electronic 'instruments,' mainly because none of them seem to have any 'life' to their sound. Aside from that, psalteries of any ilk, sackbuts, cornetts, shawms, bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies, I love 'em all. Obviously too much of anything can be, well, too much, but the intensely wierd sound that some of these things make just makes them all the more endearing to me.

Other than the aforementioned electronic instruments and percussion instruments played inappropriately or poorly, I like just about every instrument that's been named in this thread.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 08:09 PM

Good grief Matt, are you serious? Man, humans are weird, speaking for myself at least, that we find such disparate tastes in one place such as this. Please don't tell me that Bob Dylan has used your turntable technique. That would be stranger than when he "went electric", though maybe today it wouldn't raise an eyebrow.

Peace. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:36 PM

To quote Beck "I got 2 turntables and a microphone!" I think that needle scratching is pretty cool. And you wouldn't believe the story of how it was invented! I got some buds who are DJ's, and it's a fun sound.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kimmers
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:14 PM

My mother-in-law hates church organ music simply because it makes her think of funerals... 'course, she hates gladiolas for the same reason.

Most of the time, church organ music is pretty uninspiring. When you've got someone that plays with real skill and chooses music that showcase both his or her skills as well as the strengths of that particular organ, then you can be in for a real treat.

When we got married, my husband and I were lucky enough to have a church organist who also played for the Portland Baroque Orchestra (that's Portland, OR). He was magnificent, and the congregation and guests were spellbound.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:56 PM

Anything in the hands of someone who can't play it but doesn't let that stop him. An accordion can be a choir of angels singing in the right hands or it can not. I, of course, play one of the instruments voted easiest to be an @@$h0le with. The bodhran in the wrong hands can be very disruptive. I really thump that into my students to wait till they can play in time at an appropriate level to not play at sessions. Of course there are those who'll never learn!

On the other hand, the spoons when played well still suck!

Rich

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,folkcensor
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:27 PM

Mooh and I were talking and he suggested the turntable as used in some contemporary music was the worst thing to happen to music. I didn't even know it was used as an actual instrument. What kinda crap is that, rap? Geez.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:22 PM

For those of you who might get the wrong idea, I dont hate everything. For example, I like the Sitar..if Ravi Shankar is playing it. I love the highland pipes, as long as the piper doesn't play Amazing Grace. The pipes have a feel to them, rather than music. I'm somewhat in agreement that they may not qualify as a musical instrument, but, then, I understand that in Europe, the banjo doesnt qualify either.
Down in Rockport Maine there was an old curmudgeon who described the bag pipes thus: "They sound like someone gathered up a dog fight and threw it into a pig pen."

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:17 PM

Guess I put my foot in it now! Just be sure you know, Duane, that I'm not jumping on people who PLAY the damn thing, just the damn thing!<
Naemanson, have you wondered WHY Jennifer gave it to you?

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: wildlone
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:50 PM

Matt when I was over in Caerphilly on a re-enactment the other day a Breton group came across from the main ring and performed some dances for us I recognised the Bombarde, yes it was heaven.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:30 PM

bbc's Duane D played his psaltery for me, and it sounded beautiful to me! But have any of you heard Bombarde & Biniou duos from Brittany? Horrible ear-piercing to some, pure heaven to me. Ton Bale!!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:28 PM

Well, "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" sounds so much better on an organ (played by someone like E. Power Biggs) than it ever did in that smarmy orchestral version that Disney did.

When I was going to Seattle First Baptist, the organist would always do a classical piece as a recital after the church had time to empty after the service. A sizeable crowd always hung around to listen. It was a treat.

How funny how few have mentioned bagpipes. Let me be one of the first to say that the hurdygurdy is very hard to take for long periods of time (say, more than 3 seconds). Very screechy.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: sophocleese
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:10 PM

hesperis, Peter Cox has made a bowed psaltery before.

I'm trying to give a more detailed reason about why I don't like the organ that much. I think the only times I have liked organ is when I am in a choir singing with organ accompianment. I'm not sure then if I just don't like it on its own or if I get bored when I have to listen but can't sing.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: wildlone
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 03:01 PM

I play the bowed psaltry and I have found that some people do not like it I think it is the old "fingernails down the blackboard" sound.As to the history if you look around enough you will find an expert that will say that the Germans reinvented all musical instruments based on old carving/woodcuts/manuscripts/painting. I have seen a picture of a stone carving at santiago de compostella showing what appears to be a triangular instrument being held by a person holding a bow.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:57 PM

I have ignored this thread because I try to avoid negative threads (the "I Don't Like..." variety). For some reason I looked in and had to laugh.

Did you know, Kendall, that Jennifer recently gave me a bowed psaltery? If you want to ride together to the NH party I could entertain you all the way there with my vast repertoire of two songs!

Actually a repertoire of two songs isn't excactly vast. It's more half vast isn't it?

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Ely
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:48 PM

Bowed psaltery--too high and thin. Grates my nerves.

Autoharp--actually, I think I dislike the manner in which this is played more than the instrument itself. It seems to invite schmaltz. I have heard some very good players but I often have a really hard time with the repertoire.

Not a big fan of the pennywhistle, either. Again, too high and shrill (my dog will second this).

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:47 PM

I like to think I play the spoons pretty well. Will allow that they are not appropriate for every application.

I absolutely detest the sound of sampled horns. It's really keen that anyone who can play a keyboard can now play the horns... but even the best sample still does not have the crisp ringing tone of a REAL horn.

Let me say here that I love the Highland pipes but I think I'm going to bust the next piper that plays Amazing Grace within my earshot.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:40 PM

I didnt start this thread just to hear prople voice their hate of certain instruments. I'd like to know why you dont like them? For example, the bowed psaltry seems to be on a frequency which I find annoying. Sort of like the high pitched whine in a tired old TV set. Or the whine of someone who just doesn't get it.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: L R Mole
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:14 PM

My least favorite instruments are the anemometer, the leaky bidet, and the unwrung windsock. And my own annoying voice, whining.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:11 PM

I will admit, however, that there's only so much unaccompanied harpsichord I can stand.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:10 PM

And you know them all, doo-doo head!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:09 PM

*reverts back to the 9 year old from the last time MT and I de-volved*

Takes one to know one, stinky!

:-P

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:05 PM

My least favorite instrument is a computer keyboard when being used by a jerk.

There. Hope that makes some of you happy.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: *sigh*
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 01:58 PM

That much was all too obvious MT....

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 01:56 PM

Gee, Clint, I would never have thought of that. Thanks!

Subject: Someone break out the bran muffins!
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 01:52 PM

Ya don't like "what don't you like" threads? Easy fix... Stay the hell out of them then!

D'uh... How the hell hard is that to wedge into yer head?

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:57 PM

Sitars are beautiful...I especially love Ravi. In fact, there's a whole slue of Indian and Asian instruments that I really like.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:55 PM

...I almost forgot, Mbo/Matt's previous opinion notwithstanding (restart the favourite instrument thread, why don't you), I don't like the sitar much, though if I had one I might feel differently. Playing an instrument and listening to one can be two very different things.

Remember the Concert for Bangladesh recording? As much as I tried, I couldn't learn to like it.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Troll
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:54 PM

Sorry Matt, but I don't like 'synths in most situations. I DO, however like a good keyboard.

troll

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:50 PM

I'm with Matt. What I'm really tired of are "What do you hate?" threads.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:49 PM

Hesperis. I am an unabashed lobbyist for guitar, but you're right. I've said it here before, that if only guitarists (me too) would vary their playing more we all would benefit.

Peace. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:45 PM

I think a "FAVORITE instruments" thread would be much more interesting. I'm getting really tired of hearing about what people DON'T like.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:41 PM

Bart, that crack you made about Jazz being pointless noodling? Right on!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:35 PM

Good point hesperis...

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:55 AM

Thanks for the link, ddw. It looks cool. Hmmmmm, maybe I can find a bowed psaltery...

Anyway, I am probably going to get in trouble for saying this, but I find guitar to be tedious at times. Just because everybody plays guitar. It's just too common, and it can get boring.

Ducking and running FAST!
~*hesperis*~

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:46 AM

I'm with ya on the the kazooos, unless yer under 5 or 6...

I'm with ya on the spoons...

I don't mind accordion, provided it's in Len Wallaces hands, other than that, pass...

And considering all the other instruments in the same family, highland pipes are feeble and lame in my book... I don't even qualify them as an instrument, more a noise maker... I'd rather listen to absolutely ANY other kind of bagpipe instrument... especially the irish elbow pipes...

my 0.02

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: tradman
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:58 AM

I don't care for hammer dulcimers unless they have dampers. To me, an undamped dulcimer begins to sound like a subway station after a very short while.

Bowed psalteries have a tinny sound, but they're much nicer than a ukelin which REALLY sounds thin.

My understanding is that the bowed psaltery was invented in Germany in the early 1900's based on pictures from paintings, and that Renaissance psalteries were all plucked or struck. If someone knows of documented evidence to prove or disprove this, I would be very interested.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:56 AM

Accordions are hip on the Rock scene here in Boston right now. You gotta have an accordion and an upright bass. (and two electric guitars turned up to 11 so you can't hear the accordion and a full drumset all mic'd and sent through the PA, all this in a club that's usually the size of my livingroom)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:45 AM

I've always thought that the easier an instrument is to "play", i.e., make a sound on, the harder it is to play well. That's why a harmonica in the wrong hands can be a real pain.

I almost never like the electric piano that was so omnipresent in the 70's. An example is the one on Steveie Wonder's "You are the Sunshine of My Life" (it is playing on the muzak as I write). Even played well it sounds artificial and uninspiring, and lends itself to pointless noodling of the jazz sort.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:27 AM

Re:mandolins: OK maybe not if they're like "Trois and his Mandoliers"(actually the Geoff Love orch.), but who can't like Yank Rachell?
I like slightly odd instruments like valve trombones, bass sax etc in the right hands.
RtS(just because I'm opinionated doesn't mean I'm right)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Jock Morris
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:01 AM

'fraid I LIKE hurdy gurdies.

Want to hear something really bad, try the highland pipes played by a poor player e.g. half the buskers in Edinburgh. AARRGGHHHH!!!!

Though my playing of the Northumbrian pipes is pretty horrendous as well.

Scott

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,Alex H.
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:42 AM

Hurdy Gurdy - I have heard gurdies played by gurdy masters and virtuosi, and the very best player can make it bearable for about 35 seconds, before the basically unpleasant sound starts to get to me. To hear a gurdy is to understand why it (almost, drat) died out.

Mandolin - I've heard the best. I just don't care for most of the styles of playing that are popular today. The variations on plinka plinka both bore and annoy me.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 09:19 AM

Whistle Stop, I noticed a new hollowed out Les Paul recently, though not like a Birdland or anything it was more acoustic than the solid body of legendary staus among guitarists.

Synths piss me off in a big way. They cancel out overtones from acoustic instruments and that "wash" effect mentioned above drives me bonkers. For the same reason I dislike too much phase and chorus applied to any type of guitar, sounds like radio white noise.

I pretty much like any other instrument played competently. As much as I like piano though, I can't stand it when pianists pound away simultaneously in all registers at the expense and detriment of the tune and other players. Because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done. IMHO.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 08:59 AM

I don't really like pipe organs unless Fats Waller is playing them, never mad about accordions but having heard Sam Pirt's band on radio, I could be converted. Herself, who has very wide musical tastes from classical to pop, doesn't like vibraphones or jazz violin but tolerated Roger Nobes with the Alex Welsh Band and doesn't run screaming from Hot Club records.
I think a good player in the right context can make any instrument sound good (except perhaps the stylophone!)
RtS (still only "performing" on kazoo and pianola)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 08:44 AM

ddw, a Les Paul is a solid body. There was a hollow body Les Paul model at one point, but it ever really caught on.

I dislike Fender Rhodes electronic keyboard, which used to be quite popular when there were fewer keyboard choices out there (before synthesizers caught on in a big way). The sound is much too "pingy" for my tastes. I used to play in a jazz duo (guitar and keys) with a Fender Rhodes; really got on my nerves after a while.

I also dislike the way a synthesizer "wash" is frequently added to otherwise acoustic music in a way that obscures or diminishes the melody/harmony, and fills in all the spaces between the notes. It's kind of the musical equivalent of Prozac. This frequently happens in Celtic music (no "definition police," please), as well as other acoustic-based music. There are a number of people out there that I would enjoy listening to if they didn't insist on submerging everything in a synthesizer bath. Loreena McKennit is a prime example of this -- imagine how good her music would be without the synthesizers clouding it.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: P05139
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:15 AM

I'm not that keen on Jew's harps and, being a former cellist (I quit when I was 14), I've started cringing when I hear new player of cellos, violins etc. I like them when people can actually play the things but when they're just learning...AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! SHUT UP!!!!!

I like the bit in Sabrina The Teenage Witch where Hilda smashes up this kid's violin and says "This one's for Mozart", cos believe you me, it was terrible. If I'd been there I wouldn't have smashed the violin up on the table though, I would have smashed it on the kid's head (or just smashed the kid, either!)

I'm not that harsh though, I'm just musical!!!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:54 AM

I hate....

the kazooo

the spoons (arghhhhhhhh)

the didgeredooooo

and the piccolo

and the st.davids mouth harp thing (per twannggg ga twannga tawannga wang) - YUK!

:-@

Not at all neurotic - Ella

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:02 AM

I am not fond of the Hurdy Gurdy.
Patrish

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 03:26 AM

but I hate hearing certain instruments brought in where I don't think they're appropriate - where they don't fit in (personal opinion, of course) with the particular music at hand, but fit in nicely elsewhere.Chanteyranger, when I read that, I recalled my reaction when a didgeridoo briefly joined our New England/Cape Breton/Old Timey contra dance and square dance band. Now, there's nothing wrong with it in its place and I can even quite enjoy it on occasion but there? As far as I'm concerned, it's a didgeridon't.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:19 AM

Yeah! What Matt R said!

The bowed psaltery is actually a very ancient instrument. I have recordings of pieces from the late 13th century that were, appropriately, played on the bowed psaltry. Both of these pieces are English, but if my memory serves me correctly, the psaltery did not originate in England, and in fact probably probably came into being much earlier than the 13th century. (Someone correct me if I am wrong on this.)

When this instrument is used to play early music (prior to the Baroque era), it can be very beautiful in combination with instruments such as harps, lutes, vielle, and also voice.

There are also "plucked" psaltery.

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: ddw
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:35 AM

hesperis — to get a look at a bowed psaltery click here

david

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: ddw
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:29 AM

I'll see Sopho's dislike for church organs and raise you one HATE church organs. Also not fond of electric guitars, but particularly dislike most of the old hollow-bodies like the Les Pauls. And it's pretty rare that I hear a penny whistle that doesn't annoy the hell out of me.

Other than those and a few (far from all) Asian and African instruments, I can't think of any I don't like if they're played well. I even love good jugs, gut-buckets and washboards.

david

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:10 AM

Don't forget Cannonball Adderly! Didn't he play alto for Miles Davis on 'Blue and Green'? I love that one!!!

I always found alto to be smoother than tenor, and without the annoying reediness of soprano in the wrong hands. It depends on the player, and the style of music, and the reed. Inexperienced players tend to use the wrong thickness of reed, or are unable to play a hard reed, which is better for harder jazz.

But I used to play tenor and alto, so I'm a wee byt biased.

Okay, what is a 'bowed psaltery'? (Actually, what's a 'psaltery'? No sick jokes please.)

Wait, what did I just say?!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:45 PM

I don't know if there's an instrument I really hate, but I hate hearing certain instruments brought in where I don't think they're appropriate - where they don't fit in (personal opinion, of course) with the particular music at hand, but fit in nicely elsewhere. The other annoyance is percussive instruments played badly and often. Yes, Guest Bardford, I hear you!

As Spaw mentioned, Bird on alto was something special. He made it soar. You might want to listen to him and Miles Davis together on the piece "Ko Ko." It's a masterpiece! Agreed that bad alto playing sounds..well..bad. Like a goose in heat. Parker did record once on tenor. Look for "Birth Of The BeBop: Bird On Tenor, 1943." Recorded privately during the record ban, and reissued on CD.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: sophocleese
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:26 PM

Shocking millions of people world wide I will say that I am not a fan of church organs. I just get bored. We had Diane Bish here in Orillia to play a new organ in one of the churches and I was delighted to stay home and look after the kids so my husband could go with his family.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:23 PM

What's the matter with you people??? Accordions RULE!!!

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: CBjames
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:23 PM

I don't believe I ever heard of a psaltery before.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:21 PM

Spoons. In considerate, practised hands they can subtly sculpt a living, dancing vertabral column onto a tune. In the hands of the other 99.999999 percent however, the spoons are utensils of rude horror.

Culinarily yours, Bardford

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:20 PM

The accordion is not usually a favorite instrument of mine but there is a man here in town (Dale Wygant) who does amazing things with it.

I remember one time he was accompanying an International Folk Dance recital. At one point he said, This next piece is Hungarian- and it has 11 beats to the measure. I counted, and sure enough I thought I counted more than 10 beats.

Then he said, OK, this next piece is Bulgarian and it has 13 beats to the measure. But no problem; I'll just add 2 beats.

I gave up!

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: MK
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:16 PM

Your points are well taken 'Spaw.
My appreciation of the sonic qualities of the alto sax, was ruined by listening to one too many *Van Morrison and *David Bowie solos. Perhaps a renewed and thorough listen to Bird and Desmond will sweep it all clean again. *BG*


*Great songwriters/performers who should have let real pros handle the alto sax solos, but oops...their egos got in the way.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: pict
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:04 PM

McGrath I've heard Phil Cunningham play the accordion and he is virtuosic but it's really the general timbre of the instrument I don't like.My music dealer is the main importer of accordions to Denmark and is a well known accordionist in DK so I hear very expensive accordions being played in his shop regularly and I am always glad to get out of earshot of them but unlike a previous poster I love the sound of the saxophone obviously it's a case of different timbres for different hombres.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:06 PM

I agree with McGrath of Harlow.

In music class when I was in elementary school, our music teacher taught me to absolutely-bloody-hate autoharps. I never knew what a delight they could be until I heard my friend Don play the 'harp.

Mind you, Don is, in my opinion, the worlds best autoharp player (better, even, than Bryan Bowers...sorry, but I've heard them both up close). But at least I now have an open mind about them, where before, I would rather have left the room than listen to one being played.

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:59 PM

I dunno' Michael.....Depends on who's hands the thing is in. I can't take Kenny G. although I don't mind soprano, but its hard to beat Paul Desmond or the Bird on an alto. I agree that tenor is a more malleable and smoky sound. I love bari, but it gets badly mistreated a lot. And Kendall, sax is like anything else in that it depends on the player and style, not to mention the mouthpiece and reed combination.

Want a real hideous but fun sound? Try a table dulcimer....4 lap dulcimers sharing a soundbox. Now get 4 average players and go at it. Completely hideous and totally hilarious.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: MK
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:48 PM

Alto sax.


(Give me a tenor any day over an alto,
or for that matter even a baritone or a soprano.)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:36 PM

I'm not quite sure if you could call these instuments (except as instruments of torture;) but I really can't stand the animal music recordings which often appear during the winter holidays. Yapping dogs, quacking ducks, and more recently, grunting pigs. The novelty of these things is so short-lived that after the first two "musical" bars, I am ready to be elsewhere. Unfortunately, I am among a minority, I guess. The shops seem to delight in blaring such stuff over the P.A. systems.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: alison
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:35 PM

sorry to any players.. but I second that bowed psaltery comment....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:31 PM

Then you've never heard the accordion played the way it should be. Which is very likely because there's an awful lot of people mistreating the poor instrument.

And that goes for pretty well any instrument. They can all sound bloody awful, but so can we all if we're being tortured.

I'm not sure if a drum machine counts as an instrument, but that is definitely an abomination for me. I suppose it might be possible to play the bongos in a way that doesn't put it in the same class. Maybe.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: pict
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:24 PM

I'm not very keen on solo accordions they're not so bad in a ceilidh band with other instruments to cover up their sound a bit but on their own they're definitely not for me.

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 08:24 PM

Roto-toms

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 07:44 PM

Oboe.

Because I can't play it.

(If somebody can actually PLAY it, I love the sound, but if it's me - forget it!)

Subject: RE: Help: un favorite instruments
From: Matt_R
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 07:32 PM

I don't think theirs an instrument I don't like.

Subject: un favorite instruments
From: kendall
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 07:17 PM

I'm thinking it's time to get away from politics and do something in the music line. I'm curious to know what instruments you DONT like, and why?
I'm willing to stick my neck out and start. I dont like the bowed psaltry. It has an irritating zing to it which seems to be on a frequency which I find annoying.Sounds like a fly under a shingle. I also dont like the Saxophone. They sound like a big Kazoo to me.