55 years ago I lived in Hawaii and worked for a WONDERFUL Japanese Department store.  I worked in the arts and musical instruments, selling Koto's, Shmeshens(not spelled right) and many of the arts.  I grew to love all things Japanese.  (now I'm 77) I have three of my children that have married into the blood lines of Japanese and have 11 beautiful grandchildren from these couples.  One other son served his mission in Japan, he also plays the Bowed Psaltery.  I thought and thought on how I'm going to make a stand to put my bowed psaltery on and have my left hand be free to play using another bow.  I've made 105 bowed psalteries.  I looked and looked at many of your videos and wish I could see how and why the back is different.  When I can figure how to put photos on here....I'll send photos of what I make.  I love still working in my wood shop making harps, dulcimers and other things.  We have 14 children and now up to 60 grandchildren.  We are happy living in Nauvoo, Illinois.  I loved your video's of your singing with the guitar and playing as singing.  You are a special jewel.  aloha, irene

 Hi Nozomi, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your dedication and talent as a Bowed Psalterist! I look forward to everyone of your videos on Psaltery Strings. I am very new to computer tech and hope to share more videos of me soon, I must admit I'm still scared of them. I would ask you to try an over the shoulder view point so we can actually see how your bowing better. Although over the years I have learned to play other musical instruments I've always thought of my self as "Gregg Schneeman- Bowed Psalterist", its nice to know I'm not the only person to feel this way. GREGG

ありがとうざいますNozomi さん

Nozomi さんのおんがくはとってもおもしろい

I lost your previous reply about the bowed psaltery that you play.  Please send me the number of strings, the beginning / ending notes and the gauge of wire used.  I have enjoyed your videos and please download more.

Thank you.

 Bill Yoder

rustbugs@hotmail.com

Thank you Nozomi-san

I recorded the song alone by recording a track, then recording a second track while listening to the first track on headphones.  I think I actually recorded three tracks but I only used two tracks in the final mix.  I was thinking of a comment of Mike Pinder, the keyboard player from the Moody Blues back in the 1960's-1980's.  He played a mellotron which was a keyboard configured to play small cassette tapes for each key on the key board.  The cassettes were recorded with a variety of instrument sounds and Mike commented that their favorite was three violins.  I'll continue to experiment with capturing the best psaltery sound possible when recording.

Dave

I wish you could join us for next years symphony!  It is in late March.

Nozomi-san

Thank you

Yes, Modern Pilgrim is my own composition.  I have been working on an arrangement for it for some time.  It is played with a mountain dulcimer providing most of the melody, a guitar provides some accompaniment, and the psaltery adds some parts here or there along with the harmony the last time through.  The psaltery I am playing is baritone psaltery I obtained from Rick Long.

Dave

Nozomi-san

Thank you for the friend request.

Welcome to the psaltery strings site.  Hopefully you will gain as much from users on the site as we will gain from you.

Dave

Welcome!