The Leaf Player of the Zocalo

Subject: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 30 Dec 02 - 10:23 PM

There was a nice story on NPR tonight, about a man in Mexico who supports himself by playing music on a leaf of English Ivy. That's what I call folk music. Worth listening to. You can check it out at http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_895341.html .

Subject: RE: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 12:31 AM

That was a good article--I heard it also. Quite heartbreaking, all things considered. This is the link.

Subject: RE: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: masato sakurai
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 08:46 PM

The "instrument" is called kusabue (lit. "leaf [or grass] flute") in Japan. See THIS ARTICLE.
~Masato

Subject: RE: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 09:16 PM

Great link, masato! Thanks.

Nathan

Subject: RE: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 07:40 AM

Australia has gum leaf performers - it appears that making music using leaves is wide spread. I have a CD with 2 gum leaf pieces - a single price & a recording from a 1935 film. The liner notes say that "Items on the gum leaf were once a common feature at bush concerts by Europeans as well as Aboriginals. Even dances have been held in a barn to a solo gum leaf player" . The film featured an Aboriginal Gum Leaf band - "Probably learnt from the Europeans, Aboriginal gum leaf bands playing in harmony was a popular pastime encouraged on the missions & reserves. Message relays & bird call mimics were an earlier Aboriginal tradition"

sandra

Subject: RE: The Leaf Player of the Zocalo
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 03:44 PM

Zocalo: Santa Fe place name;
Zocalo: Trading area of space station "BABYLON 5"
Any connection ?