Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Soldiers Skankin Update

See ealier post on Soldiers Skankin (Ska version of Soldiers Joy). You would think that we would be done with the bloody tune by now, but lots of other stuff going on (like getting all of Jon Whiddon's art online at Adventure and Whimsy) and finishing up design on 3 new instruments...2 electric violins and an electronic violin (which we probably will not be able to show you for a while, as we are doing the Patent thing with our collaborators). Anyway...thought that we were finished...we had a nice Rock Steady "finished product"...but somebody had to go and dig out the old UB-40 Greatest Hits CD. We decided that our Rock-Steady bass and drums (think Madness and, of course, the First Generation Ska bands) was a little too monotonous. Decided to do something with an overwhelming complex bass as lead instrument a la UB-40. Also added a sub-bass part while we were at it (you feel it more than hear it). Also decided to add a heavily-reverbed melodica intro. Considered doing the whole thing in D-minor...that is nixed for now. Imagine Soldiers Joy as a D-minor tune. Somebody did Turkey in the Straw as a minor key tune a few years ago and it was way cool. So...maybe tomorrow or the next day. Read more →

Soldiers Skankin' (Ska version of Soldiers Joy) Almost Ready

Another day or 2! Of course we will have an MP3 that you can download... Read more →

Next Trew Ska'ish Tune to Feature a Rickert Neil Gow 21C Travel Violin

The growing number of people who are following the progress of our insane Trew Ska'ish project on FaceBook and iLike will love the next one...Soldier's Joy done as a primarily electronic Ska rendition. It will feature an actual Neil Gow 21C Travel Violin, as well as a Dulcijo (diatonic banjo) by Michael Fox, both played acoustically in the mix. Maybe 3 days, we'll have the arrangement done and MP3ized. Of course, by the time you hear the Neil Gow 21C Travel Violin, the free shipping offer and free shoulder rest will be over. Read more →

Ska, Synthesizers, Traditional Music and the Folk Establishment

Interesting discussion thread on these topics and more, including commentary by Friends (no, not us) on the institutions that comprise the Traditional Music and Country Dance Establisment on Don Rickert's Facebook Wall. Is the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) stuck in a time warp? Read opinion on this as well. Read more →

New Ska Version of a Famous Scottish Country Dance

We have lots to bring you up-to-date about, including our new experiment in the Trew Ska'ish project. We'll tell you all about it later, but for now, just enjoy our new medley (downloadable MP3) of the original Skye Collection version of Flowers of Edinburgh (on accordion...those strange chords are right out of the old manuscript...wish I could take credit for some of the stranger ones) paired with an insane Ska treatment of the tune...played really fast and, yeah, with relentless horn section and really cranked-up bass. You will want a sub-woofer to really appreciate the Fender Precision Bass and baritone sax. Link to the Trew Ska'ish Flowers of Edinburgh medley. Back to you soon for all of the other promised updates, including the return of Darci Jones to YouTube. Read more →