No Musical set in Ancient Greece could be complete without some authentic Greek instruments -- authentic looking at least. In my enthusiasm to help the cast immerse themselves into the ancient Grecian world, I have spent the last month creating a Cheyl's Lyre, an Aulos, a Pandouris, some Pipes of Pan, and Tympanum. These have been fascinating to learn about and wondering how they would actually sound.
From what I can imagine, they would not sound musical to our modern ears. However, I have great respect for the idea of using these unusual instruments as unique features for my upcoming production of "Never Cry Wolf." In Scene 5, the artisan character Altair the Magnificent, brings his Muses and Musicians to help him get in the mood for painting a set of Commemoration Amphora (the Greek vases famous for capturing scenes of Greek life from the ancient times.)
The production number "Set It for Posterity" allows the Muses adjust the poses of the Politicians to help them look heroic for their portraits on the vases. The Musicians, of course, play their authentic replica instruments during this wild and wonderful romp complete with demonstrations of1960's dance crazes and a rock 'n roll guitar solo. Yes, the instruments are key to this number!
From what I can imagine, they would not sound musical to our modern ears. However, I have great respect for the idea of using these unusual instruments as unique features for my upcoming production of "Never Cry Wolf." In Scene 5, the artisan character Altair the Magnificent, brings his Muses and Musicians to help him get in the mood for painting a set of Commemoration Amphora (the Greek vases famous for capturing scenes of Greek life from the ancient times.)
The production number "Set It for Posterity" allows the Muses adjust the poses of the Politicians to help them look heroic for their portraits on the vases. The Musicians, of course, play their authentic replica instruments during this wild and wonderful romp complete with demonstrations of1960's dance crazes and a rock 'n roll guitar solo. Yes, the instruments are key to this number!
The Pan Pipes and the Aulos are blowing instruments. The Pan Pipes were tubes of varying lengths blown somewhat like we would blow a harmonica today. In fact, they are considered the first mouth-organ. The Aulos is unusual because it is a double reed instrument with two sounding tubes. One of the tubes provided the melody and the other the drone for the harmony (probably an open 4th or 5th). It was a precursor to the bagpipes. From studying the drawings of these instruments from pottery and museum pieces, I decided that I could make stage replicas just using bamboo. I had my son cut up a bamboo placemat and a couple of bamboo tiki torch holders I scavenged from a thrift store. After tying them together with twine and rubber bands, they make amazingly authentic-looking, though non-sounding, prop instruments.
The Tympanun are simply variations of hand drums. I decided that Quaker Oats containers were the perfect size and shape. I painted them and added "skins" out of fake leather held on with glue and rubber bands. Seems to work out well. Sturdy enough for four performances, anyway.
The Tympanun are simply variations of hand drums. I decided that Quaker Oats containers were the perfect size and shape. I painted them and added "skins" out of fake leather held on with glue and rubber bands. Seems to work out well. Sturdy enough for four performances, anyway.
 The Pandouris is a type of lute with just 3 strings. I had my husband cut the shape of the sounding box and the neck out of an old length of a light-weight wooden shelf. I added sculpted insulation foam glued onto the board to create the shape of the sounding box. We added nylon fishing line strings using small dowels mounted to the board. We wanted her to be able to move around and pretend to play like a Rock Star, so we gave the pandouris a shoulder strap made from a macrame purse strap. She really got into the groove and rocked it, baby!  The Cheyl's Lyre is more interesting because it needed to look like it was made from a turtle shell and ibex horns. We took apart an old wooden crutch to imitate the shape of the ibex horns. The long screws and predrilled holes simplified the work to just cutting down the boards to the lengths we needed. We added sculpted insulation foam to create the "turtle body" sounding box and added strings. After painting, it looks amazingly good as an ancient lyre. |
Being a musician, I wanted this Musical to incorporate the musical flavor of Ancient Greece as much as possible. It was fun researching before writing the music and as well the script, and it has been fun now creating the musical props. I am glad they will not sound, though. We don't want them interfering with the soundtrack now, do we!
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