I am Icarus.

Yep, I am an icon for failed ambition, I flew too close to the sun and am now drowning in my over ambition. My computer hard drive refused to meld with the software and has been over the process of week and a half, in the hands of a technician friend of mine. Suffice to say, my technophobia is back with a bang. I spent a couple of coffee fuelled days and nights trying to solve the problem myself, driving my better half practically insane with my bullish "work, you bastard!" attitude.

It appears that there may be no solution to the problem and it has massively hindered my progress on my e.p. with so many possibilities wiped out in one fell swoop. Last night I was still lamenting it, when I said out to myself "I would've saved a fortune if I'd just bought a duduk....."

  Facepalm. So why didn't I? I've already taught myself how to play any other instrument I wanted to. Naturally in varying degrees of success, but the point being that I can play a tune or compose on each of the instruments I've taught myself and I've always enjoyed learning something new.

In primary school in Ireland (known as Junior High in other worldly places) it's generally accepted that you will receive lessons on how to play the tin whistle (penny whistle) or the recorder. Both wind instruments which are relatively easy to learn. I imagine the scale notes are different but the style of play is similar and I may work on a better lung capacity which though improved is nowhere near before when I just started smoking, of which, FYI, I am currently smoke free for over two years now. Have studied some videos and done a bit of research on prices, which seem very reasonable. Watch this space.

The Duduk

I'm not an ignorant by any means but I have recently found out this instrument's name after years of loving the sound of it, thanks to various film soundtracks. As covered by this blog, I have a huge fascination with ethnic music sounds from my own country's Celtic flavours to Middle Eastern flavours and beyond. But this musical instrument's name evaded me for a long time, though I thought I had educated myself enough to have a decent idea of eastern ethic woodwinds and their categories.

I was ignorant and just assumed it was part of one of the above's musical groups, but it is actually strictly of Armenian origin. It has a beautiful sound. Very ethereal. It has the same effect on me as the Uilleann Pipes. Like them, the sound is otherworldly to me. I get goosebumps at the sound. I guess it's just a thing. Part of MY human condition if you will. It's difficult to describe the effect beyond that but I am looking to employ a similar sound in my work at some point. But at least I have a name to put to the sound. I have been listening to a lot of work by a gentleman by the name of Djivan Gasparyan. He is the eminent exponent of the duduk. And his work has spanned popular film and Armenian folk for many years. His most well known work was as collaborator with Hans Zimmer on Gladiator. His phrasing and expression is beautiful, even beyond words. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy this piece half as much as I do.