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Post by valdae on Apr 25, 2012 20:39:17 GMT
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Post by xindi on Apr 26, 2012 20:07:29 GMT
Hey Valdae - some of the links are blank? It's quite uncanny hearing your compositions. I couldn't tell easily if it was a guitar or a ruan - I guess you've found a way to home in on the ruan, using a very American jazz style? It sounds much like the Bill Holcombe music I tried to comprehend! I wonder if you play original chinese repertoire at all on your ruan too? Thanks for sharing! Josh will be pleased by that and we can all do with crepe-myrtle. Although 'A few less idiots' ...does that mean there are 'more' of them if there are a few less? Sorry - idiot me question  |
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Post by valdae on Apr 26, 2012 21:28:03 GMT
LOL. Thanks for your comments. Really, some of the links were blank?
No, I play no Chinese repertoire whatsoever. I do want to learn more of the Chinese techniques; fingerings, embellishments. For me, "Crepe Myrtle" is the distillation of my approach to the ruan - folk oriented and textural. I haven't heard of Bill Holcombe, but I am familiar with John Fahey. A number of listeners have told me my style on the ruan sounds like "jazzy folk music". And yes, a few less idiots does leave some lingering!
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Post by edcat7 on Apr 26, 2012 23:05:13 GMT
If you make it big on the zhongruan you'll drive the price of them up! At the moment they're a niche instrument. My parents and Chinese friends didn't know what is was when they saw my liuqin/zhongruan. |
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Post by valdae on Apr 26, 2012 23:59:28 GMT
Well Ed, I have been thinking about forming a band. At this point, just a percussionist would be great. But I want to learn to read a little first. It would be striking to have a band. The look would be surreal; an African – American man playing an obscure instrument from another country. Oh yeah, I’ve thought of it: ruan, tabla, and erhu or cello, OR, ruan, percussion, keyboards, and bass, OR, ruan, percussion, alto sax, and keyboards.
But hey, I’m 57, and getting it up for that kind of excursion might be a little daunting. And before I take that leap into the void I want to know exactly what I’m doing.
I’m terribly glad the ruan is a niche instrument. When I got the first one, “Spark” (the nickname of my daughter), I was greatly impressed with the build quality for the price ($318.00, a c-note of that was shipping, 2009). If the economy were better (1970s prices for everything would be nice) I’d be getting that rosewood ruan from Eason this summer! But of course, that’s why I want to get as many as I can. Five would suit me (three to go).
BTW, I played the ruan on campus not too long ago and not a soul, including Asian – American students, knew what it was. Two guitarists made a bee line to me! When they tried it I could see the twinkle in their eyes, as in a “WOW!” moment. It made my day.
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Post by xindi on Apr 27, 2012 19:47:46 GMT
Lol...Fahey is a guitarist ...Holcombe is a flute player: billholcombe.com/?page_id=29It just reminded me of his jazz style. Looks like my internet 'drops' links and comes up blank - I could get it now. I presume Louisiana has some of the southern humidity issues, or perhaps its not too bad? I have no idea what 1970s' prices were like ..but I guess ruans were probably just as expensive or hard to get, after the communists destroyed everything that was beautiful - well almost. Many of the chinese instruments didn't evolve much until after the cultural revolution. Playing western music like you do, would've ended up in incarceration in a correctional facility singing Maoist anthems, mostly in C major. That would kill me. I need a few minor key deviations to stay happy Btw - I've seen ruans way more expensive, but couldn't fathom why! The wooden lacquer finishes look splendid. Does it get tiring playing it sideways like this? |
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Post by valdae on Apr 27, 2012 20:16:57 GMT
The humidity here can get as high as 90%. So far, it hasn't caused any trouble with my ruans. Actually, from what I've read, in the 70s the ruan was reintroduced, a fourth string was added and it's been in use ever since.
Actually, when that pic was taken it was starting to slide a little. I usually keep it at a higher angle than that, and that ruan is heavy.
I checked out Holcombe and players of his music on You Tube after you first mentioned him. Pretty interesting stuff. As for guitarists, I still listen to Beck (Jeff), Hendrix, Zappa, Django, Wes, Santana, McLaughlin (saw him with Shakti years ago - AWESOME!), and a number of others, and I also listen to modern jazz, blues, and 20th century classical - Ravel, Bartok, Stravinsky, and others. So my ears are pretty large.
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Post by edcat7 on Apr 27, 2012 23:02:58 GMT
The first track, as I've already told you sounds like some soundtrack to a film or musical. The second one, Orleans-live is even better! It's very relaxing, almost mediative. I could imagine listening to that driving my car through the night.
To my ears I think it would sound even better if you used a thinner pick?
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Post by valdae on Apr 28, 2012 3:43:52 GMT
“Orleans Alive”, believe me, is a very difficult piece to play. When I first heard the playback I was good and freaked! I couldn’t believe that came outta me. And that’s played on the smaller ruan. As you can hear, it is totally in your face. I used a Dunlop pick on that, a 3.0mm. From what I could see online, most Chinese players use thin picks or in the ballpark of medium. I prefer heavy to extra heavy picks. The disadvantage, you lose volume and the dynamic range is somewhat compromised, but the overall sound is rich, full, and robust! I’m at the point now where I’ll use a medium and a heavy in the same piece.
With a lot of luck I plan post stereo recordings over the weekend. Recorded in stereo, oh…oh my…delicioso! Still, of course, very guitar –like.
Pardon me getting maudlin a moment, but thanks. To FINALLY find a forum in English after almost three years of searching is a Godsend!
LOVEdevotionSURRENDER ~ Epps
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