Pamela Mortensen - The Instruments

The Instruments

These are some of the beautiful creations I make music with. Some are made by me, others are made by other people. They all have their own distinctive voice that is ready to tell many stories. You may click on the pictures to take a closer look. I do plan on having sound files soon so you can hear what each of them sound like.

Enjoy!

Kranin

I have a brand new instrument joining the other merry wooden band mates. It is called Kranin, short for şukranin, the Turkish word for Gratitude. Why Turkish? As the Italians say "perche no?" Why not? Besides, it was my great grandmother's native tongue and that seems fitting. Pictures and sound samples coming soon so stay tuned :-)

Florentine's Voice

Florentine

Key: F

Horns: Eb, C, F#

Wood: Ash

Length: 5' 1" (1.57 M)

The rock star of my happy troupe. There is a didgeridoo in everyone's life they go to first and this is it. It was made by Tyler Spencer and really didn't make a impression on me when I first played it but as I got to know it, it began to grow on me. Now, it goes with me everywhere. I've learned a lot from this didge and it does anything I ask it to.

Te Kua's Voice

Te Kua

Key: B

Horns: C, Ab, Db, F, A

Wood: Yucca

Length: 7 feet (approx 2.13 M)

The stalk has these red markings that give it a very bold presence. As I was working on it, I left it outside one day. It was sunny when I left home and raining when I got back. I let it dry out and it cracked like crazy. I thought I had ruined it. But I continued to carefully worked with it and ended up making one of the best didgeridoos I've made so far. This is the horn player. The drone is nice but it's the horns that make this didge. It's percussive sound, a soft sound a harmonic sound, a dissonant sound.......it is a beautiful sound.

The Tiger's Voice

The Tiger

Key: C#

Horns: C#, A, D#, G

Length: 6' 2" (approx 1.9 metres)

Wood: Yucca

The tiger has its stripes and this one has its attitude. It's not the easiest player but once I learned how it likes to be played then it began to warm up to me. That's why I call it "The Tiger."

Tutaal's Voice

Tutaal ("too tall")

Key: Low Ab

Horns: Bb, Gb, C, E, G

Length: 8 feet (2.4 metres)

Wood: Yucca:

Eight feet of pure bliss.

Some didgeridoos are rock stars and then there are one's like this one that are more like a steady partner that help you make beautiful music. It is a joy to play this didge! When I play it, it's as if the world melts into this mass of sweet flowing sound. If I ever go missing, you'll know where to find me.

It got its name the evening I was putting it away after practice and the mouthpiece hit the ceiling.....it's been known as Tutaal ever since.

Fafner's Voice

Fafner

Key: B/C
Horns: Db, Bb, D, F
Length: 6' 6" (approx 2 M)
Wood: Agave
Made by Brad Evans

I brought this didge home from Colorado in August, 2009 and have since been finding that it is a sleeping dragon. It has this dark chocolate sound that when awoken has the power to subdue everything around it. A friend of mine named it after the dragon from Wagner's The Ring after hearing the first time. It seems like a most appropriate name for it.