Pluck them, bang them, shake them, and blow into them! These instruments--from wood temple gongs to water drums and stamping tubes--produce every type of joyful noise. Make a fun "gourd orchestra" of rattles, like a Mesoamerican Indian rain stick and African" shekere"; a Caribbean "guiro"; a gorgeous "mbira "or thumb piano; and friction drums that wail or roar. There are instruments from near and far, from the unusual to the familiar banjo and guitar. Tips on choosing, cleaning, and sealing a gourd, and decorating and playing the finished instrument, help to create beautiful music.

Reviews

Historically, ethnic groups in many countries have used a great number of musical instruments made from gourds. In North America these instruments are used mainly by percussionists. Most of the step-by-step projects in this book by gourd artists Summit and Widess (The Complete Book of Gourd Craft) are for percussion or stringed instruments such as the Latin American guiro (gourd scraper) or the spike fiddle. There are also a few from the wind family, such as the fipple flute. These are legitimate musical instruments made from traditional materials, and they are fully playable as well as being beautifully crafted. Highly recommended for general crafts as well as ethnomusicology collections. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.