|
After 12 years of making native
american style flutes I decided to branch out into
drums. I experimented extensively with steam-bent ash,
investing a great deal of time and equipment into trying
to produce a satisfactory hoop from green ash. These
attempts were not entirely successful so I thought it
would make sense to build hoops from cedar, a wood that
has served me well and which I know I can work
satisfactorily.
The result is uguna drums. They have a hoop made from
twelve segments of western red cedar, all the pieces
being cut from a single length of cedar so that the
continuity and the spirit of the drum is kept intact. I
either lace a single drum skin on to the frame or lace
two skins together to form a double-skinned ceremonial
drum. I have experimented with cow rawhide, goat vellum
and roe and fallow deer skins and try to maintain the
spirit and integrity which are the mark of my flutes.
|
