Post 21: When Instruments Can Talk….
Here at Onks Woodwind, we frequently say, “It would be nice if this instrument could talk to us.” We see instruments in all conditions and of all ages and when the oboe or clarinet has some age on it, we always wonder what the instrument has been through over the years. Sometimes our clients know the history of the instrument and it is great to hear the story. A lot of the time, our clients purchase their instrument used and do not know the story behind the instrument. Most oboes and clarinets that we repair have serial numbers on them, which can help us determine the age and possibly the original owners if we did enough digging.
This week I overhauled an English Horn, and as I started disassembling the EH I saw something that I have never seen before. A date Stamp! I’ve seen serial numbers stamped on keys but never a date. I wanted to share this rare find with you, see the picture below. Happy 51th birthday, or manufacture day for this EH.
This EH was made if Florence Italy, which is also unusual!
Post 17: Shipping, what not to do!
I received this box the other day. The box was crushed in on all sides and the contents felt like they were not secure! When I opened the box this is what I saw. Please do not ship your valuable instruments by throwing them into a box with no padding. This is a sure fire way to cause extra damage which will cost extra money to fix. Or in this case, the instrument case was so loose in the box, the box could have ripped open and the instrument could have been lost forever!
Post 14: Cool Repair!
We received this clarinet where the left hand levers thread saddle was made out of pot metal and had disintegrated over time. Finding a replacement for this make and model would be nearly impossible. SO, Jonathan machined a new one out of some brass stock. See the before and after pics below.
-
- Before
-
- After
-
- After with rods
Post 11: World Premier by Nashville’s very own Roger Wiesmeyer!
ALIAS has developed a reputation for championing new music. In its first 10 seasons, ALIAS Chamber Ensemble has performed over a dozen World Premieres. On its Winter Concert (February 16, 2013 – 8:00 PM – Turner Hall, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University), the ensemble unveils another new work, this one by composer John Marvin.
The Sonata for oboe and piano will be premiered by oboist Roger Wiesmeyer, a much–loved figure in Nashville’s music scene.
Also on the program are two string quartets, by Johannes Brahms and John Zorn, written over 100 years apart. The Brahms quartet, his first, stands as one of the great monuments in the genre. The Zorn, titled “Cat o’ Nine Tails”, is an energetic, ever-changing romp. “Putting these two string quartets on the same program shows the versatility of this combination of instruments, ALIAS Artistic Director Zeneba Bowers says. “Brahms’ music is lush and romantic; the Zorn is schizophrenic, very reminiscent of Carl Stalling’s cartoon music. The range of character on display in both pieces is astounding.”
Bowers will also be playing Henry Cowell’s “Homage to Iran”. She, along with Wiesmeyer (on piano) and percussionist magus Chris Norton, played the Persian-inspired work on ALIAS Chamber Ensemble’s debut concert eleven years ago.
The concert’s benefit partner is Park Center.
Driving Directions
Click on map to get driving directions.
621 Fitzhugh Blvd. Suite 100
Smyrna, TN 37167
615-223-9015