Friends are telling me that an ocarina of this size (approximately 7″ tall and roughly 4″ wide) is a better option for a shelf display than some of the earlier MugPhlutes that are two and three times that size. That sounds pretty good to me, since this sized piece takes much less time to craft, is easier to voice, and probably won’t takes weeks of slow drying to avoid warpage and cracking.
So, what’s with the mezoamerican looking pots, anyway?
My reading and research continues on glyphs that feature references to Mayan music, K’ojom. There are only hints that musical notation ever made it to print and those artifacts have disappeared over time due to the frailty of the bark paper used for writing. To say that music was never carved in stone illustrates the higher status of the scribes compared to the status of the musical priesthood. Dr. Bowen’s personal experiences at the Uxmalico archeological site bears witness to this:
“It is becoming clearer each day that conflict developed between the scribes and the MugPhlute priests. Can it be mere coincidence that references to music played for high calendar, astronomical events clearly identifies the date, who ruled the event, what instruments were played…but have the names of the musicians obliterated? Something odd happened at Uxmalico. Something powerful…and it involved the impact of music at these events. Was there jealousy between those who chronicled these events into stone and those whose music from the event became portable and available in the lowest of households? Was music a threat to the status of the scribes? Did the evolution of sophisticated instruments and talented players elevate music to a status beyond simple songs of every day Mayan life?
We’re excavating an area that has exposed large quantities of shards of pipe and bulbous ceramic shapes. At first glance it appears as little more than a garbage dump from a ceremonial clean-up, but there is a layer below with skeletal remains aligned in a manner to suggest burial of the living. What did these individuals do to meet their fate in such a cruel fashion? So many questions and so many new markings to interpret. ”
Hi Paul, thanks for the blog follow on facebook. I remember you from flicker. Still making ocarinas and I see you set up an etsy store; I’m right behind you. Your work is wonderful and I am finding quite a few posts on your blog that are helpful too, thanks.
Linda, Thank-you.
I hear of success and failure with Etsy, but believe that it is a venue that we cannot ignore. ‘Good to hear that you are headed that way as well, Etsy seems to be a logical first step. Please keep me posted.
Paul:)