Month: July 2016

Progress photos of the head for the new bass rebec by Chris Davies

Here as promised are a few pictures of my progress on carving the head for the peghead of the bass rebec made for Orchestra of the Moon by Portland Luthier, Christopher Davies.  (My arrangement with Chris was that I would be the one to carve the head.)

The wood for the head is pear.  My inspiration came from some Romanesque sculptures I’ve admired for years.  This is my first attempt at carving a head for an instrument.

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Here is the head on the instrument awaiting finish:

I will post pictures when i have a chance to put the finish on the head.

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Ancient Instrument Hoard visits Veritas classrooms

On May 24th I visited Veritas School in Newberg, Oregon, to share musical instruments from the Middle Ages and Renaissance with the students.

The instruments I brought along to share were:

Renaissance Recorders

Tenor and Bass Krummhorns

Soprano Schryarpfief

5 String Medieval Fiddle (Vielle, Fidel)

Bass Rebec

Bass Viola da Gamba

Hurdy-Gurdy

Virginal (Muselar)

Clavichord (after Urbino)

 

This was my third visit to this school, for teaching or performance purposes.  As ever, I found the students extremely polite and attentive, and was pleased by the many intelligent and thoughtful questions I was asked, about the instruments, the music, or the history connected to both.

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I applaud the high level of musical culture fostered at Veritas School, under the visionary guidance of Sally Mehler, and thank her and the students for inviting me back.  I look forward to future visits there.

-Jacob Breedlove