Disclaimer:
I try to Maintain some objectivity with my opinions, observing them as developing data hopefully more than as the chains of my beliefs.
Confession:
I have never been attracted to Middle Eastern Scales on hand pan. I love them on string instruments. I have simply never played one on hand pan that really grabbed me…until now.
Musical Theory and ruminations:
Most of the Middle Eastern Scales we have built have been hexatonic with 6 notes of the scale, often missing the minor 6th or 4th scale degree, while a few have had the full scale. With this D Harmonic Minor (also called D Hijaz), having the full scale feels necessary and integral. The A Major chord to the Bb Major Chord in particular are built upon a mysterious and yet triumphant and motivational bridge of enchantment. The F Major and G Minor chords pull heart strings in different directions while the D Minor chord resolves it with punctuated confidence.
The Saraz:
Built for a friend by request, this is the first D Harmonic Minor I have built. It is a Meditation Series Stainless Steel Saraz. While the high notes extend the tension and resolve, it is the F3 and G3 on the bottom that pull at my heart with a G Minor chord and the teasing foundation of an almost full relative F Major scale.
A record and another confession:
Before this video, my longest hand pan video was 11 or 12 minutes when I was really feeling the juicy creativity of a scale or instrument. At 17 minutes, I felt the time had come to be responsible and bring this video to a close. To be honest though, I still didn’t want to stop playing it. Something about it absolutely captivates me. Maybe once per year an instrument will grab me like this, give me a bit of pan envy and make me wish I wasn’t parting with it. This is probably that instrument of 2020
I missed this one after it shipped to the UK. It went to a magical home and amazing musician however. The songs he weaves upon it sing to as much satisfaction in my heart as playing it myself. It is a humbling and blessed existence to build paint brushes for skilled players to paint musical soundscapes.
With gratitude,
-Mark
D/ (F, G) A, Bb, C#, D, E, F#, G, A (C#, D, E)
