Berimbau

Back from Holiday mode and with lots of goodies for you to be introduced to!
Sometimes we moan about the internet stopping people using their brains and looking in books, but today we at Brook Green were grateful for Google!
This donation kept us confused for the whole day and lead to this google search
"Strange wood/string sculpture possible instrument". However it somehow worked and we can now tell you that this awesome donation is a Berimbau!

A Berimbau is a muscial bow from Brazil, consisting of a large wooden bow with a single metal string. It is thought to have evolved from a one-stringed instrument brought to Brazil from Angola in the 19th century. It is used primarily to accompany the martial art known as capoeira.

It is not complete as looking at pictures and videos and suchlike online, we are missing the "Baqueta: Small stick struck against the arame to produce the sound.", the "Caxixí: Small rattle that optionally accompanies the baqueta in the same hand.", and the "Pedra or Dobrão: Small stone or coin pressed against the arame to change the tone of the berimbau."
(Quotes from Wikipedia)

Ours is for sale at £22
and is 60 inches (150cms) tall.

Sweet martial art music, so of course we have a sample for you!

Who says we don't educate you here in our shop!?

Bye for now
BG

Sweeeeeet Music

I love musical instruments when they get donated, simply as I HAVE to test them to see if they work!

Today we have this violin (maybe a Viola?) and bow and case for you to buy and enjoy.

Not a Stradivarius sadly, but just as noisy and lovely.
The case is lined with blue fur and the bow is not in too bad shape.

£20

It sounds like it needs a tune up (but maybe it is just my horrible playing...)
Unlike this which is lovely -

You too could play like so....


Bye for now
BG

Excited for Eurovision!

It's that time of the year, where lack of musical taste and block voting invades everyones tellybox.
IT'S EUROVISION TIME!
(can you tell we are excited?!)

Eurovision is that program where you get to point and laugh and wonder "What the hell was THAT country thinking? What did s/he sing? And what on earth are they wearing?!"

Eurovision parties are the new thing to have. Gather everyone about your tellybox and eat food from the participating countries, drink whenever the good ol' voting gets predictable - If Cyprus gives Greece 12 points you have to down it - or when someone says "We loved the show" when giving the points, and just have a damn good time.

So, we at Brook Green couldn't miss out on all the fun, so why not buy these Eurovision tunes?

Euro 2003 - Who can forget Jemini getting NUL POINTS for UK?

Or cover yourself in sequins like most of the performers.... (I do hope some fella gets to wear a sequin suit. My eyes love it)

Gold top £6 Blue top £3

Or wear some funky headwear....



This could be yours for 50p!

All dressed up for Eurovision!


Finally, For those people not accustomed to Eurovision (not sure if you are lucky or not), Here are some videos of the good, the bad, and the WHAT?
The Good - 2006 WINNER - Finland (this could also be under the WHAT? one, but this was bloody awesome. Well done Finland.)

The Bad - 2006 - UK (oh UK I was so ashamed....TERRIBLE! Actually don't watch it. It's just so very bad)



 THE WHAT?! - 1979 - Germany (fast forward to 1min 22secs)

Bet that one gets stuck in your head....


Bye for now
BG

"Without Music, Life would be a mistake"

Well, that's what Friedrich Nietzsche tells us in Twilight of the Idols.
Not that we want to get too highbrow here (yes we totally googled for that quote. Who has read Nietzsche,...really?), but he does have a point.
Music is everywhere now and we want some!

We are in desperate need of CDs and interesting records (please not Perry Como or Blah does Blah in the style of Blah. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but we have plenty already. Alan Smith plays Showtunes with Bagpipes, anyone?)

So, in the words of AC/DC, For those about to rock, we salute you (but please share the love and bring in some music to our shop!)

All genres welcome, but please no scratched ones, or cheeky homemade ones*

*yes believe it or not, they do get donated and it costs us to dispose of them so please don't do it.

Bye for now
BG