Musical Bows

[@hamishdavidson7750]

Mark I remember studying this instrument with you back in music school. I was fascinated by the hexatonic scales that were derived from the overtones of two notes either a tone or a semi-tone apart. I was hearing in the recordings of these instruments the origins of every funk groove ostinato that ever existed! I very nearly did my electronic music project for the late Jurgen Brauninger by recording some ostinatos off of a bass piano string (beaten) and then working with that. Fascinating this interface between roots Africa and Led Zeppelin....or to put it another way, fascinating for a boy who grew up on Led Zeppelin to find its roots in traditional Southern African bow music.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx Hamish!! Yes looking back it really was a great music school. We were very lucky to have had all those gr8 teachers and experiences. In the hands of someone who really can play this instrument like Dizu Plaatjies it is easy to make those connections to more modern music. Dizu has worked with for example Juno Reactor and Moby and the bow fits right in with the electronica techno stuff they're doing. I was lucky enough to shoot an episode with Dizu recently in Cape Town so look out for that....

[@GotDangJosh]

@@markkilianschannel neato. I went narrow and deep learning about mouthbows. Thank you for the education. I felt accidentally right. Thanks. In 1980’s Mississippi Delta, my grandfather played the Appalachian mouthbow. It is a root instrument of my life. What a lovely wobble.

[@markkilianschannel]

@@GotDangJosh Fantastic! Weird how I never even knew about the Appalachian mouth bow having lived in the States almost 30 years. I love surprises:)

[@tylon2999]

The berimbau has more than 2 tones. You produce an open and an a closed tone with the gourd and the coin 4 tones, the coin pressed lightly on the string making a buzzing tone plus the wah wah tone of the gourd.

[@allenjones5636]

Wow. Really enjoyed learning about the musical bow. Awesome information. I want to make one. Thanks Mark.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx Allen!!! You really should try to make one. It’s pretty easy. Would love to see what you come up with!

[@ptmixer]

Great stuff as always Mark!

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx mate!! Hope you’re well.

[@admirekashiri6651]

This was very informative thank you very much.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx and you're welcome!!

[@toddyivy]

Wow, wonderful.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx Toddy!!

[@daleturner]

Fookin' fantastic!!! So great you have such a cool mix of the "gourd"' variety! (I also always wanted one of the "mouth" resonance ones... amazing!) Thanks for sharing these great gizmos, covering their origins (and offshoots), and playing them! And HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Your turbo-charged modern "Greg Beyer" berimbau with that bass guitar tuning machine is awesome!)

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx so much Dale!!! Happy NY to you too and hope you’re well.

[@daleturner]

@@markkilianschannel ❤❤❤❤

[@marklchristensen]

I’m going to call the musical bow the first guitar. Defiantly evolved from a empathetic hunter.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx Mark. Hope you're well.

[@nookzter]

@markkilianschannel from where did you buy your Berimbau?

[@markkilianschannel]

A place called arcomusical.com

[@santiagoferreiraviturro9806]

Here in Uruguay we have the Charrúa mouth bow. There are two tipes the big (percution one) and the little one (frotation one).I played bouth and another afroindigenos one wich have "mate" but I forget the name at this moment. I will make a video.

[@markkilianschannel]

Please, if you ever made that video, I would love to see it!!