[syndicate] Stringed Instruments of Sheila Kaye-Smith

[jeff harrison]

ROSE DEEPROSE 

the Pipa is 
a four-stringed lute 
with 30 frets & 
a pear-shaped body. 

the instrumentalist 
holds the Pipa upright 
& plays with plectra on 
each right-hand finger 

to heal doom with details. 

* 

THE END OF THE HOUSE OF ALARD 

the Aeolian Harp is typically a wooden box 
with strings stretched lengthwise across 
two bridges. it is played by the wind: the 
play of the wind on a string forces the air 
on the leading side to move faster than 
the trailing side's air; then the pressure ahead 
is slightly less than that behind, pushing 
the string further to the side, until 
the restoring force arising from deflection 
halts & reverses the motion, a dodge, like 
weltschmerz pursued by the weltschmerzhounds, 
breathless, panting, ready to drop, yet flying still 
onwards (still flying onwards were perhaps better). 

* 

SHEPHERDS IN SACKCLOTH 

the Violin: a bowed string instrument 
with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. 
built by Andrea Amati in 16th century 
by order of the Medici family. the Medicis: 
plenty who swear by wishes to their wishes, 
that they may sleep off their curse if they lie. 
who else were these strings meant for, but those 
whose mouths would prove thought by mentions? 

* 

THE LARDNERS AND THE LAURELWOODS 

the name "Guitarra" was introduced into Spanish 
when Guitars were brought into Iberia by the Moors 
after the 10th century. Guitars, yourselves an example 
of Apollo's tangled donkey ears; please, Guitars, you 
unbudded hearts soon blooded, haven't I more crimson? 

* 

JOANNA GODDEN 

the Clavichord's strings run 
transversely from the hitchpin rail 
at the left-hand end to tuning pegs 
on the right. towards the right end 
they pass over a curved wooden bridge. 
the keys are levers with a small brass 
tangent at the far end. the strings, 
of brass, or brass & iron, are arranged 
in pairs. when the key is pressed, 
the tangent hits the strings above, 
as mountains resolve height with woods. 

 		
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Everyone is raving about the  all-new Yahoo! Mail.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://tekspost.no/mailman/private/syndicate/attachments/20060905/fd054a1b/attachment.html>