Nobody Special Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Well, we've all banged to music on the anvils, or rang them for the fun of it. I got sidetracked by the Google doodle this week and have been a little obsessed with making a mbira, the African instrument with the plucked metal keys. When I start looking at traditional versions, it seems to be mostly cold forged, but with a lot of work and tweaking and it's got a cool sound. I'll post pics if it doesn't come out a complete flop. Y'all know any more forged instruments? Apparently steel guitar is usually just a name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 I believe steel guitar referrers to the steel strings and tone bar used to play it. One of the members here did build a beautiful steel guitar though. CRS kicked in and I can't remember who sorry. It just came to me it is Daswulf who is the artist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awrksmokey Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 I vaguely remember reading somewhere on this forum that an anvil itself is used as a percussion instrument sometimes. There was a link to a piece of music that the anvil was used in, but my memory is a bit foggy and I can't remember if it was actually a smithing anvil used or a different instrument with the same name. It was pretty interesting though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus_Aurelius Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Greetings all, The anvil is used sometimes as a musical Instrument. About a year ago I played the solo trumpet part for second suite in F by Gustov Holst. The 3rd movement is called “Song of the Blacksmith”, an it involves an anvil. There are specific moments where the ring of the anvil sounds throughout the song, I offered to bring my Peter Wright in as the original score called for a real anvil, but the director went for a brake drum instead . I’ve linked the song https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7nz7tvRdL94 (I do not believe this link breaks the rules, if it does, sincere apologies.) -Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 I had a musician friend of mine check the ring of my anvil. He said it rang in C minor. So, when asked if I play any musical instrument, I always answer,,, "Yes, I play the anvil in C minor". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Funny 3 minute youtube version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 That was GREAT John! I needed a good smile and that was just plain fun. it was almost enough to make me want to listen to more classical. . . Rock and Roll. That might be the music Little Joe and Hoss were beating on an anvil with sledge hammer to in an episode of Bonanza. I remember them doing it in time with the music but it's been a while. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluerooster Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Heres one from Finland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Ao-iNPPUc Where's the "embed" code" or do I have to write it in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 7 hours ago, anvil said: I had a musician friend of mine check the ring of my anvil. He said it rang in C minor. Minor denotes a chord or progression not a note Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Funny indeed, however if you want to talk music that incorporates the blacksmith beating the anvil, you can not go past Verdi and his aria "La Gitanella" or the little gipsy girl. The Gipsy is the blacksmith who sings "Who makes the Gipsy's days better? The Gipsy girl! " In the below rendition the anvil beating musician is not a comedian but can fortunately keep his tempo. The choice of a lady playing the part of the male blacksmith is very PC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Does YOUR anvil ring? Doc Cudd playing the anvil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpQ5mBabLtU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Mr. D. Cudd, Might want to give a listen to Javanese and/or Balinese gamelan music and orchestras. They have much on common. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 A "minor" error. I wasn't double striking so it couldn't be a chord. Perhaps he said C flat, and I've embellished it over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Your anvil is flat---I hope you didn't grind it! (How would you inflate a flat anvil after patching the puncture also came to mind...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Luckily it was only flat on the top side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 On 5/25/2020 at 4:26 PM, Marc1 said: The choice of a lady playing the part of the male blacksmith is very PC Especially seeing as how they had a male on the opposite side in stereo, showing that there is no gender for blacksmiths Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Would a cow bell be considered a forged instrument? "Needs more cowbell" Also look into Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead. He played a lot of different percussion instruments. Among them one was "The Beam" an aluminum I-beam that was strung with piano wire he played. You can hear it on the "Apocalypse Now" sound track, among many live shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 4 minutes ago, BillyBones said: Would a cow bell be considered a forged instrument? Only if it is forged. . Not the cow,,, just the bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 On 6/8/2020 at 1:34 AM, billyO said: Especially seeing as how they had a male on the opposite side in stereo, showing that there is no gender for blacksmiths Ha ha. Verdi wrote the opera "Il Trovatore" in 1853. The blacksmith in the play is a man, a Gypsy that is in love with a Gypsy girl. Verdi did not have blacksmiths and their gender role in mind, only a love story for the audience to enjoy. The play clearly portrays a man blacksmith. Did the gypsy girl also have hammer skills? Verdi did not include such possiblity in his libretto. but at that point in time in the opera, the singer is the blacksmith, one lonely man singing to his love as he beats the anvil. I suppose that next time they remake the movie Braveheart they will change the role to a female actor? ... Joan of Arc played by a man? possible, perhaps will draw more audience too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 The Anvil Chorus: Gypsy men and women: See how the clouds melt away from the face of the sky when the sun shines, its brightness beaming; just as a widow, discarding her black robes, shows all her beauty in brilliance gleaming. So, to work now! Lift up your hammers! Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? His lovely Gypsy maid! Men: Fill up the goblets! New strength and courage flow from lusty wine to soul and body. All: See how the rays of the sun play and sparkle and give to our wine gay new splendor. So, to work now! Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? His lovely Gypsy maid! The plot of the opera il trovatore is dark and sinister as they all usually are, and the main characters are women. The blacksmith role however is just background and male. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shabumi Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 A few videos of musical anvils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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