From Erik the Flutemaker comes this intriguing flute dating back to the Ice Age! This one really tickles my scientific side. (Note: this man is unfortunatly not a Creationist, but the fact that the flute originated in the Ice Age is not in dispute.) No, I do not own one of these beauties… yet… 
Category Archives: Music
If you need a good laugh, sit down for a few minutes and watch this clip. This features Erik the Flutemaker, a flute craftsman in Florida. He has taken all sorts of folk woodwinds from all around the world (China, Japan, South America, even ancient instruments from the Ice Age) and figured out how to reproduce them in easily playable form, using bamboo grown on his own property. He never fails to put a smile on my face. This clip shows him dressed up as a merchant in a bazaar displaying his various flute creations.
From the golden years of the Rennisance comes the lovely stringed instrument: the lute. Here’s a wonderful example of this instrument playing one of my favorite period pieces: So Ben mi chi hà buon tempo.
This has got to be the biggest, most monstrous woodwind I’ve ever seen. Can you imagine trying to get enough air into this recorder?
Pennywhistle Solo
I found this lovely rendition of one of Ireland’s most beautiful airs - Roisin Dubh (Little Black Rose) the other day played on a Generation B flat whistle (I own one - they’re absolutely fantastic instruments). Be sure to turn off the playlist at the bottom of the page before you listen.
BTW, I fixed the links in the previous posts concerning the Michala Petri performances, so they should work now.
A clip featuring one of my favorite classical artists (Michala Petri - alto recorder) playing one of my favorite Baroque pieces.
Homestead Heritage: Musical Instruments
Homestead Heritage has expanded its woodworking skills. They are now making musical instruments. Here is a violin in progress.
And here are two finished products. Absolutely beautiful. One of them sold over the weekend. I can’t imagine how much it cost.
They also make guitars and something called a strumstick, which is a cross between a banjo and a dulcimer. Out of everything in the fair, this is what I liked the most, but it was too rich for my blood.
Dad trying out a strumstick. Strumsticks, like dulcimers, are a kind of zither instrument. The strings are banjo strings. It’s tuned like a dulcimer with one open G string that plays the melody and two drone strings. It is possible to play chords. To see how this instrument can be used, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFyJ8tTR_Hk.
An Amazing Birthday Present
This is long overdue. But sometimes, I enjoy a good thing so much that I forget to share it with others.
For my 23rd birthday (goodness, doesn’t that sound old!) my best friend, Elisha Ann Wahlquist, recorded a CD featuring several songs that have long been favorites, a long with a few sentimental ones important probably only to her and myself. It was very sweet, and I insist this ranks as one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Elisha has a beautiful soprano voice. Long ago, we used to sing in a youth choir together, and after that she and I enjoyed singing together when a rare opportunity presented itself. Usually I would sing alto because my voice, though accurate in pitch, is very weak. Not that I mind; I much prefer singing a part. Later on, I would play the piano and she would sing - or play her violin. Those are some of my favorite memories.
I’ve always wanted a recording of her voice, and had even thought of asking her myself if sometime we could record her, somehow, but she beat me to it. On the 8th anniversary of when we first met, she gave me the CD I mentioned above. They were songs she had chosen especially for me. Three of them I am going to share here. The first is a lovely violin piece from one of my favorite musical suites - The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi. The second is a song we collaborated on many years ago. It’s not the greatest song in the world, but we both love it because we shared it. Recently, she quoted this song in her book Salamont: Rise or Fall? http://www.lulu.com/content/4966527. The last is one of my top 5 favorite hymns. Personally, it’s my favorite song on the whole CD. Not surprisingly, it’s a hymn both of us have shared and repeated to one another time and time again.
Largo from the Four Season by Vivaldi.wma
I Know A Land That\’s Free.wma
I Know A Land that’s Free
Words: Elisha Ann Wahlquist; Music: Karen Spangler
I know a land that’s free,
Her heart is liberty!
Her king enthroned shall reign on high,
O country, that never dies!
My loyalty I pledge to you,
Christ’s sparkling land shines so true!
O country wide and glorious!
O country, that never dies!
My country, that’s in the sky!
I know a land that’s free,
Her heart is liberty!
Her pearly gates are open wide,
O country, that never dies!
To allow me to come to you,
My Master died, yes, it’s true!
O country wide and glorious!
O country, that never dies!
My country, that’s in the sky!
I know a land that’s free,
Her heart is liberty!
To her Maker I’ll always be nigh,
O country, that never dies!
Though death stare me right in the face,
She’ll meet me there, to embrace!
O country wide and glorious,
O country, that never dies!
My country, that’s in the sky!
I Am His and He Is Mine
Words: George W. Robinson; Music: James Mountain
Heav’n above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green -
Something lightens every hue
Christless eyes have never seen.
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine
Since I know as now I know -
I am His and He is mine!
Since I know as now I know -
I am His and He is mine!
Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disterb my rest,
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear -
I am His, and He is mine!
While He whispers in my ear -
I am His and He is mine!
His forever, only His;
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be -
I am His and He is mine!
But while God and I shall be -
I am His and He is mine.
Thank you Elisha for such a wonderful gift - it has really blessed me!
