minstrel: cool instruments

[Dustin]

I personally like the persian santoor (the Iranian dulcimer) and it is
period (unfortunatly the oldest serviving models, just like the hammered
dulcimer, are from the 18th and 19th c.). With each note being a course of 4
strings each (as opposed to an HD, which has two per note), you do not have
to worry too much about volume (well, when you have more than two drummers,
volume is a problem). You can get one of these from Darvishkhan
(http://www.darvishkhan.com/), but you can get decent ones off of E-bay that
are a lot cheeper (about $300 less).

I like the Iranian Setar better than the Saz, but unfortunatly it is not as
loud as the Saz. I belive the Setar is period because when my wife and I
were in London a few months ago, we saw a Middle Eastern art showing and on
a plate that was at least a few hundred years old it had a person playing a
Setar like instrument. You can also find one of those on Darvishkhan or
e-bay for relatively cheep too.

One way I have seen people beat the volume problem is using an accustic
pick-up and have a small amp hidden under their chair (the chair was
covered). It obviously is not very period, but at least people can hear you.

I think it is great that people are talking about middle-eastern instruments
on this list! And If I saw some one at an event playing a cumbus or a saz, I
sure would not care if they were period or not (95% of the people there
would not know). The band I play with in the mundane world (If I dare call
it mundane) is a middle eastern band and I only wish I could convince them
to come to events with me.

Morgan Ellisse

P.s. Even though the Santoor dates back farther than the surviving models,
no one knows if it looked the same as the ones in the 18th c. (unless you
want to say all of those dulcimers from the 14th c. paintings could be
santoors?) It is just mentioned in various writings, so it gives the player
a bit of freedom from the rules of what is period and what is not (just like
the hammered dulcimer, which I play also).