homemade instruments

[pianonut]

i probably should have posted this in the instruments section, but i just had a really neat listening experience today.  i met a young couple who play middle eastern/israeli music and  make many of their own instruments.  they have unique sounds that noone can replicate.  for instance, the guy made his wife a HARP.  it is beautiful.  beautiful wood.  and even though it has nylon strings, they sound so neat!!  she learned to play the harp in 2 years.

they have five daughters and most of them sing.  the mom composes much of the music, they learn dances to it, sing, and prerecord a tape that has several tracks of  music that they add to. ok, then the dad takes 'whatever' material and makes all these really neat drums.  the second youngest daughter is fantastic at drums and is sort of meditative when she plays (much like indian culture).  when they all get together (dad and daughter on drums), another one was a rain maker (long shakey instrument - resounding sounds), and i believe another instrument they made was a very high sounding chime.  very cool sounds.

anyway, they stayed at my house last night and i got to meet the mom and dad and daughters.  they homeschool, practice a lot, (make instruments/write music), and travel in a motorhome performing concerts all across the us.  the dad was laid off from boeing or some airline that he worked for after 9/11 and they decided that they would make music a profession.  after two years, they have several cd's and really neat music that they are performing and dancing to.  after their performances you can look at the instruments.  i've never met such creative people before!  (and, they didn't go to college for music - the dad just learned how to make the harp by talking to instrument makers and off the internet).  the children range from 8-24.  they are really great dancers, too.

if you want to hear/buy a cd...i'll put in the e-mail address.  they are messianic jews and their music reflects the same message as christians.  the hope and faith in the ressurrection of jesus christ and passages from psalms, and various nt. scriptures.  the songs follow almost every mood a person can have.  from discouraged, to joyful.  when you listen , you feel brought into a feeling of the joy they have performing the word of God.

[Aziel]

Interesting...