Re: tsimbls - Kurt Bjorling

[Miriam Grunberger <miriamgrunberger...>]

Thanks for the message. I called Kurt to discuss
matters.

M
--- Ari Davidow <ari (at) ivritype(dot)com> wrote:
> I am forwarding this for Kurt, who is not on this
> list. DO NOT RESPOND TO THE LIST--
> HE WON'T SEE IT!
> 
> >From: Muziker (at) aol(dot)com
> >Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 12:19:26 EDT
> >
> >A friend who subscribes to this Jewish music email
> list forwarded some
> >messages to me about me and the Jewish-style
> tsimbls/dulcimers/sanduris which
> >I make.  I have news on this subject which may be
> of interest.
> >
> >Just to set the beliefs and perceptions straight
> surrounding my
> >tsimbl-building efforts:
> >- I have received many requests and offers for my
> tsimbls, and I have always
> >HOPED to be able to make them  for people who want
> them, but so far I have
> >never sold any or built any instruments for sale.
> >- To date, I have completed exactly two instruments
> - I use one of these
> >myself and the other is in regular use by my
> colleague in Chicago Klezmer
> >Ensemble, Eve Monzingo.  A third instrument is
> completely finished except for
> >putting on the strings - and it has sat this way,
> one step short of
> >completion, for almost five years!
> >- This is not as perverse as it sounds: I have kept
> this instrument
> >uncompleted so that I can remove the top and show
> people the interior
> >construction - I have been trying to interest
> someone in building these
> >instruments for me so that I could start supplying
> them to the people who
> >have been asking me for them.
> >
> >BUT, (the good news)
> >- Last Sunday, June 10, I resumed work on building
> tsimbls.  The last
> >previous entry in my work log was in August of
> 1996!  I hope to complete two
> >new instruments by the end of this summer.
> >- I have found a Chicago area piano technician who
> rebuilds and restores
> >pianos and who is very interested in collaborating
> to produce my tsimbl
> >designs.  It is clear to me from my discussions
> with him that he understands
> >the important factors of the instrument and
> together I think we can improve
> >my design.  He is leaving next week for one-month
> visit home (in Greece) and
> >we plan to get started on this project soon after
> he returns in July.
> >
> >IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN MY TSIMBLS:
> >1. I am not yet ready to quote prices, or predict
> availability, but I welcome
> >questions about the instruments themselves.  I am
> far more hopeful now than I
> >have been in years that I can start making
> instruments available soon. 
> >("Soon" means within a year or so.)
> >2. I have a list of people who have expressed an
> interest in acquiring one of
> >my tsimbls, it is not well-organized and it may not
> be complete, but I will
> >do the best I can to make sure people who are
> already waiting/hoping to get
> >one of my tsimbls will get first chance.  If you
> believe your name, or that
> >of someone you know, already belongs on this list,
> it would not hurt to
> >confirm this with me.  If you want to add your name
> to this growing list,
> >please let me know.
> >3. IF I actually go into production of tsimbls then
> I will try to serve all
> >the people on my list, in the order in which they
> declared their interest.
> >4. BUT - as long as I am just making instrument on
> a day-to-day basis,
> >without an organized plan to produce them steadily,
> I will offer them on a
> >cash-and-carry basis.  For example: I hope to bring
> at least one or two
> >completed instruments to 'KlezKanada' this summer
> for participants to
> >learn/practice on, and if somebody there decides
> he/she definitely wants to
> >buy one of them, I would probably sell it.
> >
> >I am NOT a subscriber to this mailing list - SORRY!
>  (If I had time for that,
> >I would have had time to be building instruments!!)
> so you cannot contact me
> >through the list.  If you write questions please
> include a telephone number -
> >I do not have time to write lengthy answers -
> talking is much faster!  If one
> >of you will act as email 'spokesperson' and collect
> all your questions  I
> >will happily answer all questions as a group and
> you may post my response to
> >the list.
> >
> >Kurt Bjorling
> >743 Brummel St.
> >Evanston IL 60202
> >(847) 475-3905
> Musiker (at) aol(dot)com
> 
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> ---------------------+
>