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/ discography / dva - Moments of Optimism
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Recorded in concert
October 2002 at
Kin Kin Hall by Stuart Koch
Photos: Sonja de Sterke, Tunji Beier & Linsey Pollak |
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Tunji plays:
Kanjira
This small lizard skin frame drum is about six inches in diameter and has an
amazingly bassy sound, it is played with one hand holding the drum and controlling
the glides and pitch changes while the other is used to play it using the
south Indian finger technique.
Tavil
The tavil is a large barrel shaped drum played with fingers (the fingers
have thimble like caps on them to create a clean sharp sound) on one
side and a
stick on the other. It has a buffalo skin on the treble side and a goat skin
on the bass side. This powerful temple drum is used traditionally for weddings,
ceremony’s and street festivals.
Gangan
Gangan is the smallest version of the Yoruba talking drums. It’s body
has an hour glass shape and strings weaving from head to head which when squeezed
tighten the heads therefore changing the pitch of the drum. The Gangan sits
under the arm that squeezes the strings while the hand is used simultaneously
to play the skin, the other hand holds a curved stick in which the skin is
hit.
Zarb
The Persian drum Zarb is incredibly subtle while having amazing clarity
and a full bass sound making it an extremely complete sound that
is warm, soft
and crisp.The Zarb is basically shaped like a goblet with the skin, usually
camel being on the large side, it is play lying horizontally across the lap
while sitting down.
Morsing
Or otherwise known as Jaw Harp is a small metal instrument that is
held against the teeth and plucked creating a tone which can be modified
by
changing the
cavity of your mouth, the tongue as well as the plucking is used to create
rhythm.
Bells
You can hear a range of cow and goat bells that have been found through
Tunji's travels to Portugal. These bells come from a very small village
where the maker
hand makes the bells for farmers.
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Linsey plays:
Clarini
Linsey plays various narrow bore clarinets or clarinis - hybrid instruments
which he has designed and built from bamboo, aluminium and wood. They use
a sopranino sax mouthpiece and in one case an alto sax mouthpiece and are
built in various tunings.
"Rosella" & "Crow"
These are 2 different bass clarinis invented by Linsey. "Rosella" is
made in glass by Arnie Fuchs and Crow is carved and routed from Crows Ash.
Both instruments although looking quite small have a rich deep sound due to
the fact that although looking quite short the bore loops back and forth and
the bore length is actually very long.
Clarinet
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“Moments of Optimism”
was recorded live at Kin Kin Hall in October 2002 and is the 2nd album from “Dva”
1. Crow. (Pollak & Beier)
This opening piece features "Crow" (wooden bass clarini) and the
gangan. It is a conversation between these two instruments and fades with a
talking drum solo where Tunji creates a recorded loop live, overdubbing layers
of gangan.
2. Moments of Optimism (Pollak)
This is a piece for "Rosella" and kanjira in 18/8 written by Linsey
in Tunji's parents' back garden in response to a piece by Ross Daly while touring
with Ross in Australia last year.
3. Brzitsa (Pollak)
A piece written for clarinet in a typically Macedonian style in 7/8.
It opens with Tavil.
4. The Key (Pollak)
This piece in 13/8 is played on an aluminium clarini made in the “Kurdi” tuning
and opens with a solo on the zarb.
5. Bistrishko Horo (trad - arr)
This is a traditional Bulgarian gaida (bagpipe) tune in 11/8 played on
clarinet and kanjira and leads into Mesechina (Pollak) by way of a
kanjira loop that
Tunji records while playing live (then changing onto zarb). The melody was
inspired by pieces from the hymnology of the Bektashi dervish order. It is
a slow melancholic piece for a wooden clarini.
6. Krsmet (trad - arr)
This suite of pieces opens with morsing and an arrangement of the Macedonian
folk song “Shto krsmet Stamena Imala” played on "Rosella".
It moves on to Another Moment (Pollak & Beier) which is almost a reprise
of Moments of Optimism (but in 11/8) and ends with a dynamic kanjira solo leading
into Cocoon (Pollak) which is a piece for a clarini made in Sabah tuning moving
between various time signatures (11/8, 10/8 and 7/8) and accompanied by kanjira.
7. Lanterns (Pollak & Beier)
Lanterns was first played as an accompaniment to a huge parade of lanterns
that was part of the Fire Event at the Woodford Folk Festival. It is played
by a bamboo clarini that uses the gaida (Macedonian bagpipe) fingering system
and tuning. It opens with the gangan.
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“Moments of Optimism”
Dva - Tunji Beier & Linsey Pollak
1. Crow...........................................................................4.28
2. Moments of Optimism............................................5.20
3. Brzitsa........................................................................5.42
4. The Key......................................................................4.16
5. Bistrishko Horo / Mesechina...............................11.49
6. Krsmet / Another Moment / Cocoon...................17.43
7. Lanterns....................................................................5.14
Total Time..................................54.53
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