big drum gets a stand

started a stand for the big drum yesterday. i used some leftover spindles from a staircase me and a good mate built, in chertsey, england. the job was a listed building on the high street. about 100 years ago it was a feed store.our task was to divide it into three separate units, and put a new roof on.just across the alley was an old foundry, and a womens prison which has now morphed into a block of offices and a carpet store. more than one of the locals say that the old womens prison site is haunted.
anyways back to the drum stand. my goal is to give the illusion that the drum is levitating.not sure how yet.watch this space.
havent forgot the twin drums, thanks for reminding me ct.

pow wow perfect setting

what a great experience, lots of good medicine here, the big drum had lots of admirerers,made lots of new friends

big drum goes to pow wow!!

well it's friday nite, just got home from work sixty five mile back up on the m-25,glad to be home. gotta get the camping gear out and packed in the wagon.the big drum is saying "boom boom boom boom" it's like coming of age for this drum, it's first public appearance if you like.we head out tommorow morning.

drummer's sunset

drum for the nite sky
in a meadow
with grass knee high
and the sun
in its final moment
the world is engulfed
in its crimson glow

Drum circle

Last wenesday I went to a west African drum circle in a little village hall in surrey England. It was the first time I had been to one of these. I've been to lots of pow wows with that rythmic beat of the drum, that lulls me into a sort of oneness with my creator. This west African drumming was amazing. To be one of the drummers in this circle was a real treat.I had a lot of trouble keeping in time with the other drummers. Eventually I caught on, still need years of practice but that didn't stop me enjoying myself. At one point I was giggling at myself, I felt like I was 12 years old,with the whole rest of my life ahead of me. I will definitely go again.

made a rattle today,photo to follow

The first big drum

first big drum western red cedar frame, rawhide red deer northern england. blessed with south dakota sage, sweetgrass, rose quartz,and lemurian crystal. I started thinking about this drum last summer 09. I was sitting out on the back porch, pondering sound vibrations, and the physical force produced from sound. That was the birth of the big drum.
I got alot of spyder totems while procurring materials, for it's construction.So I've kind of nicknamed the drum "spyde.
I blended materials from different parts of the world. To explore the connectiveness of all things, and the strong and beautiful ressonance they can produce.

Been thinking about the next drum, maybe two drums will get some cedar stock this Saturday. The site I'm working on at the moment, I'm fitting pairs of oak veneer doors. That have matching grain, so when fitted properly, the two look as one.mortise locks, flushbolts,and hinges. Lots of router work.the finshed product gives a sense of accomplishment. Anyways that's where I came with two drums, twin drums if you like!

the big drum measures across 28 inches, this to represent the 28 days in the cycle of the moon.the sounds it produces are beautiful and mezmorising.only i need a place in the open to really play it, i'm trying to think of a good place to take it to and have a real good wail on it. at the moment i'm thinking of, the totem pole in windsor great park early one morning. any suggestions, anyone out there?



new development!!!!! the big drum goes on the pow wow trail.second weekend in july each year. they hold a native american pow wow on a bison tarm in the wiltshire countryside.the lady at the campground said bring your drum. sunday evening they have about a sixty person drum circle.should be able to really let go the first real test of the big drum.