[Trombone-l] Conch shell on Reveultas

[Jeff Albert]

On 8/14/07, Raymond Horton <rayhorton at insightbb.com> wrote:

>
> Are these conch shells available anywhere?  I wonder if I could find one
> that: (1) is pitched in E; or (2) has a larger aperture;, or both.
>


I don't know the piece, but I do have a playable conch shell.  They
aren't widely available, at least not easily.  I got mine in
Guadeloupe.  I saw a guy selling shells for tourists downtown and told
him I was looking for one I could play.  He said to come back the next
day, and he had a couple that he had cut for playing.  I picked one (I
was fairly broke at the time).

You can shape and size the rim to some extent.  I have read Turre's
accounts of making some of his shells, or at least shaping the rims,
so it can be done I am just not sure how easily.

As for the pitch, I find I can get about a minor third, or maybe a
fourth out of each partial by changing my hand placement in the
opening.  The farther in you put your hand, the lower the pitch goes,
so if it makes an F#, getting an E out should be doable.

To hear a lot of shell playing, check out Steve Turre's album
"Sanctified Shells."  It probably doesn't have much to do with the
piece you have to play, but it's pretty cool.

Jeff