15th October 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Nail Fiddle (or Violon de fer) consists of iron or brass nails of different lengths fixed to a semicircular wooden soundboard, They are struck by a bow with coarse black horsehair, produceding sound by friction. It was invented in Germany byJohann Wilde in 1740. Later versions made by others included instruments with glass or wooden rods instead of metal nails, and ones played using rosined gloves or bare hands.
The instrument was made in France circa 1750.
Nail Fiddles are assigned the number 131.2 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
13 = Friction Idiophones. Instruments set into vibration by rubbing.
131 = Friction Sticks.
131.2 = Sets of friction sticks.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Idiophone Nail Fiddle Horniman Museum
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19th February 2011 at SOAS (Khalili Lecture Theatre), London WC1 (London Fiddle Conference demonstration).
The Musical Saw is a regular hand saw adopted as a musical instrument. It is usually played seated with the handle squeezed between the legs, the serrated edge facing the body and the far end held with one hand. The blade is bent into a curve, and a bow drawn across the centre of the curve (or “sweet spot”). The Musical Saw has featured in Country Music and Vaudeville.
A photo of this instrument being played can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5528991902/.
Musical Saws are assigned the number 132.1 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
13 = Friction Idiophones. Instruments set into vibration by rubbing.
132 = Friction Plaque.
132.1 = Individual friction plaques.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Idiophone Musical Saw London Fiddle Conference SOAS
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19th February 2011 at SOAS (Khalili Lecture Theatre), London WC1.
London Fiddle Conference, www.thefreeuniversity.net/FiddleConference/ [organised by Ed Emery].
Country: United States (British resident). Style: Folk.
Caspar Cronk gave a talk on “Notes on the Musical Saw”. Here he is giving a demonstration. The Musical Saw was mostly found in the United States, particularly in Country Music and Vaudeville.
Tags: Folk Music United States Musical Saw London Fiddle Conference Ed Emery event SOAS
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3rd April 2015 at the Borderline, London W1.
Folk and Roots, folkandroots.co.uk/.
Country: Britain. Style: Traditional English & Scottish (& other) Folk.
Lineup: Emily Portman (v/concertina/banjo), Alasdair Roberts (v/g), Lucy Farrell (viola/fiddle//musical saw/v), Rachel Newton (clarsach/fiddle//v).
This group brings together Emily Portman from Glastonbury, Lucy Farrell from Maidstone, Rachel Newton from Edinburgh and Alasdair Roberts from Perthshire (though actually born in Germany). Portman and Roberts are well known songwriters, but this project focuses on traditional songs. Apparently Roberts joining the Portman Trio on the 2012 album "Hatchling" was an important step in bringing them together. Before that I saw him guest with the Trio in 2010 at the New Empowering Church. In the past I've taken photos of Roberts solo and with Gillebride MacMillan at the Gaelic Voices Festival, and of Newton with Rona Wilkie [to view click on the tag of the musician’s name].
More information: www.thefurrowcollective.co.uk/, www.facebook.com/thefurrowcollective.
Tags: Folk Music Great Britain English Folk Scottish Folk Furrow Collective Lucy Farrell Musical Saw Folk and Roots Borderline
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8th July 2017 at Royal Festival Hall (Clore Ballroom), London SE1.
Part of New Music Biennial (free event).
For this event the PRS Foundation selects new compositions (no longer than 15 minutes) across a range of musical styles.
Country: Britain. Style: Traditional English Folk.
Lineup: Sam Lee (v/jaw harp), Francesca Simmons (violin/musical saw), James Keay (p/violin).
Sam Lee's work was "Hullucination" which mixed music and oral history recordings (by a fisherman and traveller from Hull). I have photographed Sam Lee twice before, at the Oxo Tower (with other groups) in 2010 (www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157625131812406/) and at The Bedford in 2013 (www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157632913438082/).
More information: www.samleesong.co.uk, www.facebook.com/samleefolk/.
Tags: Folk Music Great Britain English Folk Francesca Simmons Sam Lee Musical Saw New Music Biennial Southbank Centre
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