Blog
Steev Kindwald is playing the Indian double flute Alghoza for 20 years now. Only after 20 years “one is able to make the instrument sound well”, said his master in Rajasthan once. Steev plays the double flute several hours per day. He says, it is so much more than merely playing and practicing the instrument. Playing the Alghoza is a state of being, a way of life. Helen Hahmann interviewed Steev Kindwald (who also is a recognised expert for asian mouth harps) in the summer of 2019 at DAN MOI in Taucha, Germany.
Steev Kindwald unites diverse cultural influences as a musician and instrument maker like no one else. He absorbed a huge part of his playing technique on the double flute Alghoza and different mouth harps in Asia, mainly in India and Southeast Asia. He also takes his inspiration from old instruments from museum collections or even archaeological excavations. Steev had a chat with Helen from Dan Moi about his encounters with instrument makers in Asia and furthermore about his approach to making bamboo mouth harps.
Joachim Hellmann is well-known for his jaw harp passion in his home region, the Uckermark. For a living, he teaches qi gong and taijiquan and works as an educational staff member at a primary school. He is also present with his jaw harp in camps and on festivals. On such occasion he uses his pseudonym Yoeman. He says, the jaw harp is great fun and with it it's easy to get in touch. It connects people. The jaw harp is also perfectly suited for spending moments on one's own, special moments such as in the summer of 2019 at the Ancient Trance Festival.
Petr Jasinčuk aka Brumlista astonished many people. In a video, he plays the mouth harp in the deep winter´s cold, his body dipped up to his neck into the water of a lake. Petr is not only famous for his extreme water sport endeavours, he is also known for being a progressive force in the Czech mouth harp community and a fine musician. Petr talked to Helen from DAN MOI about his motivation to dedicate his time so devotedly to the mouth harp.
Through many centuries, the Riq (or Riqq) has been the most important percussion instrument in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. Until 70 years ago, without the Riq Arabic arts music was simply unthinkable. Although the frame drum is not bigger than a plate, it is a highly esteemed instrument in classic Arabic music, due to its rich sounds and diverse sound colours, but also due to its demanding playing techniques that challenge the player.
The musician, composer and music teacher Bernhard Mikuskovics spoke to Helen from DAN MOI about his very personal story with the Slovakian flute Fujara. "I appreciate the visual beauty of the Fujara; I appreciate its unique sound." Bernhard Mikuskovics plays those sensitive instruments practically everywhere. The sound of the instrument comes either in nature or in a church particularly well into effect. The interview aims at inspiring the listener to try out the Fujara, even at uncommon places – to get out of the own four walls.