Category Archives: Music

Mai 22, 2026 · 16:26

Subtitles to the Gemshorn video – Gemshorn Video Untertitel

Here are the subtitles to my Gemshorn introduction video. The instrument maker is Alois Biberger.

Für die deutsche Übersetzung hier klicken.

[Playing the old hymn „Da pacem domine“ on …

… yes, on a Germshorn!]

Hello and welcome to another instrument introduction video.

Today: the Gemshorn.

This instrument is a tenor Gemshorn made by Alois Biberger and I bought it quite recently at the international recorder festival in Bad Kissingen.

A while ago I had started thinking: why don’t I have a Gemshorn yet?

And, yeah, probably because I never had the chance to look at them, try them out.

And Mr Biberger was at the recorder festival and I fell in love with this tenor Gemshorn.

And I hope you like the sound as much as I do. And I also think the colours are just extremely beautiful. I especially like the white tip of the horn here.

Now, for those of you who are not familiar with the Gemshorn, the concept is rather old. I’m no expert, so I won’t try to travel back in time and explain everything, but what I can show you is that we have a labium up here and a fipple made from wood here. And we have seven holes here plus another very small hole meant for tuning (?) and we have one thumbhole on the back.

As for range, we have an octave plus one, so.

[Playing a C major scale up to the d and back again.]

We also have a few semitones, we have the f sharp.

[Playing d e f# g a b a g f# e d]

And we have the b flat.

[Playing f g a bb c d c bb a g f]

And we also have the c sharp so we can play a D major scale.

[Playing the D major scale upwards and downwards.]

Now, what kind of music would one play on it? I know that a lot of people play renaissance music or even medieval music on it but you can use it for any kind of music you like.

Folksongs work really well on it and dances.

I have chosen a song from the Mondsee manuscript, late 15th century. And it’s about two roses in a garden and I’m going to play it for you now.

[Playing „Ich hab in einem Garten gesehn“ – „I’ve seen in a garden“]

And, as I said, you can also play all kinds of dances, for example one of my favourites: the Bear Dance.

[Playing „Bear Dance“]

And you could see and hear that sometimes my fingers don’t yet know where to go and where to find the holes, but, I mean, despite the fact that it is quite heavy, it’s really easy to play. It fits my hands really, really nicely and just for comparison, this is a Gemshorn tenor size and here I have a tenor recorder.

Maybe I need to hold them like this so you see the difference in size and it’s mainly because obviously the horn is so much wider than the recorder that a shorter horn can also play these low notes.

Yeah, so, this is my new Gemshorn, and, knowing me, I might – it might not be the only Germshorn I will ever own in my life. But for now, it is THE Gemshorn I own.

And, yeah, I hope you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will also put the link to Mr Biberger’s workshop in the description.

Thanks, have a good day and bye-bye!

—-

Übersetzung der Untertitel

[Ich spiele den alten Choral „Da pacem domine“ auf …

… ja, auf einem Germshorn!]

Hallo und willkommen zu einem weiteren Instrumenten-Vorstellungs-Video. Heute: das Gemshorn.

Dieses Instrument ist ein Tenor-Gemshorn, gefertigt von Alois Biberger und ich habe es erst kürzlich auf den internationalen Blockflötenfesttagen in Bad Kissingen gekauft.

Neulich dachte ich: warum habe ich eigentlich noch kein Gemshorn?

Nun ja, vermutlich, weil ich bisher nicht die Gelegenheit hatte, mir diese Instrumente anzuschauen oder auszuprobieren. Herr Biberger war auf den Blockflötenfesttagen und ich habe mich in dieses Tenor-Gemshorn verliebt.

Und ich hoffe, euch gefällt der Klang ebenso gut wie mir. Und ich finde auch die Farben ausgesprochen schön. Besonders mag ich die weiße Spitze des Horns.

Nun, für alle, die das Gemshorn noch nicht kennen, das Konzept ist ziemlich alt. Ich bin keine Expertin, deshalb werde ich keine Zeitreise versuchen und alles erklären, aber was ich zeigen kann, ist, dass wir hier oben ein Labium haben und einen Flötenschnabel aus Holz. Und es gibt sieben Fingerlöcher und ein ganz kleines, um die Stimmung leicht zu verändern. Auf der Rückseite ist ein Daumenloch.

Was den Tonumfang angeht, so haben wir eine None.

[Ich spiele eine C-Dur Tonleiter bis zum d und zurück.]

Es gibt auch ein paar Halbtöne, wir haben das fis.

[Ich spiele d e fis g a b a g fis e d]

Und wir haben das b.

[Ich spiele f g a b c d c b a g f]

Und dann haben wir das cis, können also eine D-Dur Tonleiter spielen.

[Ich spiele die D-Dur Tonleiter nach oben und wieder zurück.]

Nun, welche Art von Musik würde man damit spielen? Ich weiß, dass viele Menschen darauf Renaissance Stücke spielen oder mittelalterliche Musik, aber im Grunde kann man darauf jede Art von Musik spielen.

Volkslieder funktionieren sehr gut, und Tänze.

Ich habe ein Lied aus der Mondsee Handschrift aus dem späten 15. Jahrhundert ausgesucht. Es handelt von zwei Rosen in einem Garten und ich spiele es jetzt für euch.

[Ich spiele „Ich hab in einem Garten gesehn“]

Und wie gesagt, man kann alle Arten von Tänzen spielen, zum Beispiel einen meiner Lieblingstänze, den Bärentanz.

[Ich spiele den Bärentanz.]

Und ihr konntet sehen und hören, dass meine Finger manchmal noch nicht recht wissen, wohin sie müssen und wo die Löcher sind, aber, obwohl das Instrument recht schwer ist, ist es doch leicht zu spielen. Es passt sehr gut zu meinen Händen, und, zum Vergleich, es ist ja ein Tenor-Gemshorn und ich habe hier eine Tenorblockflöte.

Vielleicht muss ich sie so halten, damit ihr die Größenunterschiede sehen könnt. Weil das Gemshorn um einiges dicker ist als die Tenorblockflöte kann man auch mit dem vergleichsweise kurzen Instrument die tiefen Töne spielen.

Ja, das ist also mein neues Gemshorn, und, wie ich mich kenne, werde ich… wird es wohl nicht das einzige Gemshorn bleiben, das ich in meinem Leben besitzen werde. Aber im Moment ist das DAS Gemshorn, das ich habe.

Ja, ich hoffe, euch hat das Video gefallen und bedanke mich fürs Zuschauen! Wenn ihr Fragen habe, zögert bitte nicht, mich zu kontaktieren. Ich werde den Link zur Werkstatt von Herrn Biberger unten posten.

Danke, habt einen schönen Tag, und bye-bye!

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Oktober 24, 2025 · 11:06

Video subtitles „Low Ds“ – Untertitel zum Flötenvideo

Here are the subtitles for the video „Low Ds come in threes.“ (Hier klicken für die Übersetzung)

Hello!

Low Ds come in threes, and this is one of them.

A tuneable low D by James Dominic.

[Playing „The Arran Boat Song“]

Coming from the recorder and playing a lot on tenor and also bass recorder, first I thought, oh, low D, that’s rather easy to play, well, to be honest – it’s not.

But I love the sound and so, when James Dominic announced that they have made a new design for low D, I was really curious. Because they said, and I can relate to that, that some people find to play on low Ds a bit uncomfortable because it’s such a large and long instrument.

And it’s the same, or, not really the same, but it’s a bit like with tenor recorders, too. Some people find the long tenors not too easy to play. And bent heads bring the instrument closer to the body, so for some people this is more comfortable.

Now, low D and bent head?

Well, yes. James Dominic, they got you covered.

Because their new design is this one. Low D, number two in my collection. They call it the „sax whistle“ and it has a bent head.

So, just to bring them both together, that’s what they look like.

And here is the sound.

[Playing „The Water of Tyne“]

Low Ds come in threes, that’s the title of this video and before I’m showing you number three, first I need to step back and show you this instrument here.

It is a high D telescopic flute or whistle made by Mauri in Finland and to play it you have to take the cap off. And there we go.

For comparison I brought a high D whistle as well and this is the high D 3D printed telescopic whistle, flute.

[Playing „The High Road to Linton“]

Now. The whistle family has the high D and the low D.

And the telescopic family now has a low D as well.

Here it is!

Look at it, is is quite big. Now, this one fits in your trouser pockets. For this one, you need really, really large trouser pockets. But it’s still, when it’s folded up, it’s still quite small.

Now. Let’s have a look.

Here it is!

Rainbow.

Isn’t it a beauty?

Now, it has six holes here on the front. But it also has a thumbhole on the back, just like the recorder does. So, it’s mix between a whistle and a recorder.

And I can put my left hand just like I normally would.

For my right hand, you can see where my ring finger goes – there is no hole here so the deepest [I mean lowest!] hole is this one here and I have to close it with my little finger.

[Playing „The Water is Wide“]

Size-wise, this one is more like an alto. I brought one to show you. But the pitch is the same as with the low D.

Yes, so, my collection has grown again and if you have any questions about any of these instruments, please get in touch.

Thank you for watching and have a great day! Bye-bye!

—–

Übersetzung

Der englische Titel des Videos heißt „Low Ds come in threes“, was sich in etwas übersetzen lässt mit „Tiefe D Flöten im Dreierpack“

Hallo!

Tiefe D Flöten im Dreierpack, und das ist eine davon. Eine stimmbare „Low D“ von James Dominic.

[Ich spiele „The Arran Boat Song“]

Da ich von der Blockflöte her komme und viel mit Tenor und auch Bassblockflöten spiele, dachte ich anfangs, oh, „Low D“, das dürfte einfach sein. Nun, um ehrlich zu sein – nein, ist es nicht.

Aber ich liebe den Klang und als James Dominic ankündigte, sie hätten ein neues Design für die „Low D“ entwickelt, war ich wirklich neugierig. Denn sie sagten, und ich kann das nachvollziehen, dass manche Menschen es ein wenig unbequem finden, auf der „Low D“ zu spielen, weil das so ein großes und langes Instrument ist.

Das ist ungefähr so wie bei Tenorblockflöten. Manche Menschen finden die langen Tenöre schwierig zu spielen. Ein geknicktes Kopfstück bringt das Instrument näher zum Körper und für manche Menschen ist das bequemer.

Nun. „Low D“ und Knickkopf? Aber ja! James Dominic bietet genau das an. Das hier ist das neue Design. „Low D“, Nummer zwei in meiner Sammlung. James Dominic nennen es „Sax Whistle“ und es hat einen Knick im Kopfbereich.

Beide „Low D“ nebeneinander sehen so aus.

Und so klingt sie.

[Ich spiele „The Water of Tyne“]

„Low D“ im Dreierpack ist der Titel dieses Videos, und bevor ich euch Nummer drei zeige, muss ich erst einen Schritt zurückgehen und euch dieses Instrument hier zeigen.

Es ist eine „high D“ Teleskop-Flöte oder Whistle von Mauri in Finnland und um sie zu spielen, muss man diese Kappe abziehen.

Los geht es.

Zum Vergleich habe ich eine „high D“ Whistle mitgebracht und das ist die „high D Teleskop-Flöte aus dem 3D Drucker.

[Ich spiele „The High Road to Linton“]

Nun, in der Whistle Familie gibt es eine „high D“ und eine „low D“ und nun hat die Teleskop-Flöten Familie auch eine „low D“.

Hier ist sie! Schaut mal, wie groß. Diese hier [gemeint ist die „high D“] passt in die Hosentasche. Für diese hingehen braucht man wirklich große Hosentaschen. Aber wenn sie nicht ausgeklappt ist, ist sie trotzdem relativ kompakt.

Nun, lasst uns mal sehen. Hier ist sie! Ein Regenbogen. Ist sie nicht wunderschön?

Sie hat auf der Vorderseite sechs Löcher und sie hat auf der Rückseite ein Daumenloch, genau wie die Blockflöte. Sie ist also eine Mischung zwischen Whistle und Blockflöte.

Ich kann meine linke Hand hier hinlegen, wie ich es gewohnt bin. Bei meiner rechten Hand seht Ihr, dass da, wo mein Ringfinger liegt, gar kein Loch ist. Das tiefste [gemeint ist das unterste] Loch muss ich mit dem kleinen Finger abdecken.

[Ich spiele „The Water is Wide“]

Von der Größe her ist die Teleskop-Flöte eher wie eine Altblockflöte; hier ist eine. Aber die Tonhöhe ist die gleiche wie bei der „Low D“.

Ja, meine Sammlung ist wieder größer geworden und wenn ihr Fragen zu einem der Instrumente habt, meldet euch.

Danke fürs Zuschauen und habt einen tollen Tag!

Bye-bye!

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August 29, 2025 · 09:18

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – Hedehusum

Welcome to the eighth and final post in a series of blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The seventh one can be found here (and includes a link to the previous one).

„Hedehusum“ is the last track on the album, an instrumental that takes you to a small dwelling on the island of Föhr in the North Sea or to any other happy or dreamy place you can imagine.

A slow and quiet piece of music, and special in a way – three musicians contributed to it. Stephan laid the foundation, MyLoFy and his guitar(s) nestle up and I had the great pleasure to play Stephan’s old alto recorder and blend in as well.

A wonderful way to end the album, and I really hope you enjoyed listening (and reading my short posts).

Make sure to get the album directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp, and look forward to whatever Schall & Stille will be up to in future.

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August 22, 2025 · 09:13

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – The World That I See

This is the seventh post in a series of eight blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The sixth one can be found here (and includes a link to the previous one).

„The World That I See“ is the longest track of the album and the second one I had the honour to sing. (The other is „The Mill“)

You could say it’s a ballad or a poem, but I don’t think it really fits into just one category. That’s one of the things I love about Stephan’s music. You don’t open a drawer and say, oh yes, it’s this or that genre – it’s always Stephan and it’s always worth listening to. Yes, I know, I’m a tad biased, but I wouldn’t have driven 150 kilometres to Stephan’s studio for something I don’t like.

Take your time to dive into the full length of the song and follow the music along a twisted path with a few surprising turns.

If you like the album, you can buy it directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp.

Next week this series of blog post will end with „Hedehusum“.

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August 18, 2025 · 11:55

Musical Musings (1): playing more than one instrument

What’s the „magic number“ of instruments that makes you a multi-instrumentalist? Three, four, five, oder more? How good should you be on any of them to call yourself a multi-instrumentalist?

Is playing several instruments a good thing or would the old saying of „jack of all trades but master of none“ apply?

Historically, people who played several instruments (for a living) was rather common for quite a while. Specialisation set in from the 1800s and, especially in classical music (with a few exceptions) we still have a tendency for professionals to have one main instrument and become as good as possible on this instrument.

I don’t want to take sides. However, I consider myself more of a multi-instrumentalist than a specialist in just one or two instruments, and some of the instruments I play have a little bit in common, so adding them to my skill set came almost naturally.

When I was in kindergarten, I played the recorder. I can’t say that I really knew how to play and I remember colourful pictures and „graphic notation“ showing which finger holes were to be closed. I always wanted to play the piano like my grandfather whom I loved dearly, and in the early 1980s the piano moved in with us. I had to take part in a music group first for a year or two before I could take lessons, but it was worth waiting and I still remember my first piano teacher fondly. She laid a good foundation that saved me during four years of mediocre teaching I had afterwards).

I kept my recorder and occasionally still played it. One day I found my mother’s old neglected guitar and started trying to figure out how to play. I taught myself playing chords and accompanying songs but never had proper lessons. I also had „lessons“ on the bugle (German Jagdhorn) from my father’s co-worker.

The (piano) accordion came next. A whole new world opened up and I loved the instrument from day one. I was quite good at it and even auditioned at music college but didn’t make it. But that’s another story.

Then there was the organ. Again, there were keys like on the piano and the treble side of the accordion, but one shouldn’t be fooled by these similarities to think that the organ is easy for a pianist. It has challenges of its own. Those of you who know me from previous blog posts will know that I continued playing the organ and that it’s now my main instrument (with the piano a close second).

During my time at music conservatory, when I studied for my diploma, I dived deep into singing and conducting and a little less deep into percussion. I can still play a xylophone with more than one mallet, but that’s a skill I don’t need that often anymore since I’m currently not teaching elementary music. Another thing I still do is writing songs and sometimes composing instrumental pieces.

My recorder collection grew and I also starting dabbling with tin whistles. For a while, I played horn in a marching band. I was given two diatonic button accordions that I still don’t play in front of an audience because I feel I need to practise more. I started playing ukulele last year and I sometimes play melodica.

When you’re playing so many instruments, you get asked a lot of questions. For example, how on earth do you do that, and don’t you get confused? Sometimes people seem disappointed that you’re not a virtuoso on one instrument.

And sometimes you have conversations like this:

„How many instruments do you play?“

(6 or more)

„Do you also play the violin?“

Nope.

„That’s such a pity.“

I know that the person probably meant well and maybe the violin was their dream instrument, but this comment still baffled me.

By the way, I wanted to play the violin for about half a day when I had just started secondary school – my music teacher had said that the school has an orchestra and that you could borrow instruments. So I came home and said to my mother: „I’m going to learn the violin.“

My mother looked at me, shaked her head and replied: „No, you’re not. This would annoy the dog“.

And so my career as a string player ended before it had even begun.

The closest I’m getting to a violin is my Otamatone and while there are people who can play it quite well, I’m not one of those people and I don’t feel the urge to work on my skills as much as I do for other instruments. But that’s just an aside.

I might not be a virtuoso, but I take pride in my ability to play different instruments and to make music in all kinds of settings. For me, this path is just right, but it has also been difficult from time to time.

I’m going to write more about virtuosity in another blog post.

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August 15, 2025 · 09:09

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – Candor

This is the sixth post in a series of eight blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The fifth one can be found here (and includes a link to the previous one).

„Candor“ is the shortest track on this album, and to do it justice, you should listen to „Elude“ first and then just follow the flow.

The song feels like a duet – two souls having a conversation and they must’ve known each other for a long time. Perfectly aligned, breathing in and out together, enjoying each other’s company.

It’s conversation that doesn’t need any spoken words and so it’s just as well that this track is purely instrumental.

And I don’t want to spoil it by writing too much.

If you like the album, you can buy it directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp.

Next up is „The World That I See“

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August 8, 2025 · 09:04

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – Elude

This is the fifth post in a series of eight blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The fourth one can be found here (and includes a link to the previous one).

„Elude“ is one of five instrumentals on the album and has an almost classical feel to it. The track is starting with the waves coming to the shore and when the music sets in it can take you anywhere. An organic combination of sounds and small musical ideas make it a great companion for a short inner journey and while I could listen to it for hours, the link to the next song: „Candor“ is perfect.

I’m going to write a bit about „Candor“ next week, but if you can, listen to both tracks today.

If you like the album, you can buy it directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp.

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August 1, 2025 · 08:56

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – Fish out of water

This is the fourth post in a series of blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The third one can be found here (and includes a link to the previous one).

„Fish out of water“ is sung by Susanne Balg and her voice is just perfect for this song. Stephan couldn’t have made a better decision than to ask her to sing it. For me, the song is one of the best on the album and it should be on the radio. All the time.

Okay, I’m a little bit biased here, but listen how the music makes you believe it’s an easy summer tune and yet the lyrics are so deep and so much more than just a „feel good“ song that can be in the background while you sit on the sofa with a drink.

Listen once, listen twice, listen and feel as touched as I was (and still am).

If you like the album, you can buy it directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp.

Don’t miss next week’s post despite the title: „Elude“

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Juli 25, 2025 · 09:46

Schall und Stille: Malers Hüs – Dark Clouds


This is the third post in a series of blog posts about the album „Malers Hüs“ by Schall & Stille (Stephan). The second one can be found here (and includes a link to the first one).

The first 60 seconds of „Dark Clouds“ make me feel like I’m inside a large building, maybe a church. I’m standing and admiring the acoustics and the shiny organ pipes. Then the scenery changes.

Something is happening. Is it as dark as the surroundings suddenly appear? Or is it something else?

And another change. Has someone taken my hand and is asking me to dance?

The sky is wide.

Dark clouds are there and yet they’re not.

If you like the album, you can buy it directly on Stephan’s website or download it from Bandcamp.

„Fish out of water“ is on next.

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Juli 24, 2025 · 09:41

Subtitles – Untertitel – TeleTunes Blue

Here are the subtitles to the short introduction video I made with my blue TeleTunes 3D printed „blues“ whistle (für die Übersetzung hier klicken).

Hello and welcome to today’s video!

I’m standing right next to my 1977 Magirus Deutz truck in blue and I have here a TeleTunes 3D printed telescopic whistle in blue.

And you will soon hear why this one has to have a blue colour.

Taking the cap off.

Open it.

Here we go!

TeleTunes B Blue.

[Playing a „blues“ scale upwards and downwards.]

[Tapping my foot and improvising a short blues melody.]

[Ending with a high note played with a „brrrt“ sound I make with the tip of my tongue.]

—-

It seems that the blue version of this whistle is currently sold out, but you can still get it in purple which is also a nice colour.

—-

Deutsch:

Hier ist die Übersetzung der Untertitel zu meinem kurzen Video zur blauen TeleTunes „Blues“ Flöte.

Hallo und willkommen zum heutigen Video.

Ich stehe neben meinem blauen Magirus Deutz LKW von 1977 und habe hier eine TeleTunes 3D gedruckte Teleskopflöte in blau.

Ihr werdet bald hören warum diese Flöte blau sein muss.

Ich nehme die Kappe ab.

Ich öffne die Flöte.

Los geht es!

TeleTunes B Blau.

[Ich spiele eine Blues-Skala aufwärts und abwärts.]

[Mit dem Fuß klopfe ich ein Metrum auf den Hallenboden und improvisiere eine Blues-Melodie.]

[Die Improvisation endet mit einem hohen Ton und einem „brrrt“ Klang, den ich mit der Zungenspitze erzeuge.]

—

Im Moment scheint die Flöte in blau nicht erhältlich zu sein, dafür aber in lila. Was auch eine schöne Farbe ist!

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