the origins of modern rock music | Forum

Music for Megaliths

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fitzcoraldo Jan 7, 2010 09:16:32

Replying to Mr Hamhead

Mr Hamhead wrote:

Did anyone see the program on BBC 4 last night about the Nubians in the Sudan...it started off with stones you could play tunes on..like bells...that's what you call music from megaliths

Mr H

This may interest you Mr H....a major object of desire in our house.

http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-galleries/keswick-museum/the-musical-stones-of-skiddaw.aspx

Not quite playing the megaliths but given the prehistoric cumbrians eye for a nice piece of stone...who knows?...perhaps the group VI axes found throughout our islands are actually lithophones (-:

As for music at the stones, I'm old school and prefer the soundtrack that's already there.

cheers
f

tiompan Jan 7, 2010 09:54:54

Replying to fitzcoraldo

The splendid Roy Buchanan had a granite built guitar , attached to heavy duty stand rather than round human shoulders , supposedly for the resonance .

tjj Jan 7, 2010 10:45:48

Replying to fitzcoraldo

fitzcoraldo wrote:

http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-galleries/keswick-museum/the-musical-stones-of-skiddaw.aspx

Not quite playing the megaliths but given the prehistoric cumbrians eye for a nice piece of stone...who knows?...perhaps the group VI axes found throughout our islands are actually lithophones (-:

As for music at the stones, I'm old school and prefer the soundtrack that's already there.

cheers
f

The Musical Stones of Skiddaw are fascinating; I first heard of them on a Radio 4 feature a while back.

If by "I'm old school and prefer the soundtrack that's already there" you mean the sound of birds (down south it skylarks, swallows, goldfinches to name but a few) or the high pitched screek of buzzards or a kestral overhead - then I'm totally with you.
Then there is always the wind.

Great thread though, lots insights into the personalities that post here - all good.

atb
June

Rhiannon Jan 7, 2010 11:54:37

Replying to fitzcoraldo

Likewise, Fitz.
You might like to try John Cage's 4'33". You don't even need to take the cd up there with you :) Sitting there and concentrating on hearing what's at a site is one of my favourite bits of being there, it means I've finally relaxed and I'm properly there.

(any similarity with this sounding like me being a pretentious git is completely coincidental, that would be the opposite of its intention)

Mr Hamhead Jan 7, 2010 18:49:21

Replying to fitzcoraldo

cheers f
not quite as tuneful as the nubian stones i suspect they were 'baked' denser...

i am with you on the minimal soundtrack being best....happy to just hear the skylarks. Tis funny, I love listening to music at home and in the car but never had any need to buy a walkman ipod etc..

Mr H