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for those who wish to hear the saw

May 27, 2006 at 10:29 PM

For those of you who want to hear the musical saw.....

There is a soundclip in the top, lefthand corner of what the saw sounds like. This isn't quite as haunting as David Hetheringtons performance but you get an idea!

Kelsey,we should learn to play the saw together...
Splendid idea Jasmine! Who wants to use the bow and who wants to do the bending???
Thanks for the links, Kelsey. You find the most interesting things on the Internet. Have you considered augmenting your future income as a performer and teacher by becoming a music librarian, too? I still don't understand something important. How do you play different pitches with a saw? What is equivalent to putting fingers on different places on the fingerboard of a violin? Please excuse my ignorance; I'm just a violinist.
I think you bend the saw in different directions to make different pitches.
Hey Pauline, I think if i did anything aside from teaching/performing it would have to be composition....I love writing music. My Mom actually seemed really keen that i should consider a double major for awhile but after talking to someone who did a double major in performance and composition i realised that i value sleep too much to attempt that.

As for pitches on the saw, it is the in fact, as Jasmine said, the bending of the saw that creates the different pitches. It's quite fascinating and impressive to seen done live. I remember being absolutely horrified though when I saw David take his cello bow and start in at the saw with it.