Page 6 University Daily Kansan, September 25, 1981
Spare time
Dulcimer players no longer play alone
By DIANE MAKOVSKY
Staff Reporter
It could have been a jam session at the bluegrass festival in Winfield, a dozen musicians strumming山崖duplicates, 12 expressions of concentrated determination . . . but it wasn't
It was the second meeting of the mountain dulcer class on Friday. Monday nights at the Mountain Music Center in Oakland.
A mountain dulcimer is a four-song, almost 40-inch-long instrument. It looks like a skinny, elongated violin that has lost its neck in the elongation process.
A dulcimer differs from a violin in that its fret board is about one inch thick and sits on top of the body of the instrument. It is placed on the lap, or a table, to play.
THE COURSE is taught by Allen MacFarlane,
geologist at the University of Texas trade, a
player and teacher in math.
The dark blond and bearded teacher offered his class a mixture of history of the instrument, hints on how to play and performances of last weeks homework and the new assignments.
"I like to think of myself as a real booster." MacAarlane said after class.
He said that after playing the dulcimer for two and a half years, "I got tired of playing by myself.
He did not want his students to go through similar frustrating experiences of not having
someone to explain techniques. He said if he did not knot the rope, less than he and the other could work it together.
IN ADDITION TO running his class forty-five minutes overtime, MacFarlane told his students to call him at home if they experienced any problems during the week.
"It is a piece of America," MacFarlane said about the ducimer. What has often been thought of as a "dumb folk instrument" has, after a 175-year history, become useful again, he said.
Speaking right through his students' tuning, MoFiarne said, "Yes, they are really people who have a voice."
He spoke of musicians using the dulcimer for jazz and even an occasional rock group using the bassoon.
"I biased to fiddle tunes," he said, "and I think they're great."
A GROUP OF DULCIMERS sounds like the swarm of the bumble bees. Individually, however, the sound is somewhere between a harpischord and a fiddle.
The class is enthusiastic about what it's doing,itting in a huge circle, some of the students said it was their turn.
MacParlane and the class sang through a piece of music that the class was to practice this
"Take the melody you've got in your head and put it on the dulcer," he said.
Last weekend at workshops in Winfield, MacFarlane said that he felt like an "absolute lie."
"Music is kind of a neat hobby," he said,
"and sometimes something new. Always
newly to learn.
"I wound up with this menu of things to do," he said. "I would take a year to develop the new ideas.
Meeting people and having people to play with is nart of the fun of the instrument. he said.
MACFARLANE PLAYED two songs in a competition in Winfield, and although he didn't place, he said it was a significant feat because he suffered from stage fright.
MacParlane suggested to the class that if they decided to play with another musician, they should pick someone who played another induction. The duplicers together may sound bored, he said.
MacParlane plays with his wife, who is a cellist.
"My goal is not competition. My goal is, I guess, to feel more comfortable with the dulcimer than I do now.
"My goal is just to be able to walk up to a group, find out what they're playing and be able to play it," he said.
"When your playing by yourself, it's really tough."
MacParlain said that he used to "beat the bushes to find other players." However, when the class at the Center was announced, other students had to learn how to him to say that they also played the instrument.
He said he knew of about 30 dulcimer players in Lawrence.
Dogman paintings symbols for problems in artist's life
By SUSAN JEZAK Staff Reporter
When he left his job as a draftsmaker for a local chemical company to come back to school three years ago, Dalton Howard, Lecompont graduate student, probably never had the chance like his "Dogman Painting" exhibit, now showing in the Visual Arts Building gallery.
The show, which runs through Oct. 2, is part of Howard's thesis, and includes several styles and periods of his work. It is easy to see how Howard's work has progressed from carrot drawings and freestyle chalk still lifes to crisp oil paintings in vivid, unusual colors.
The show, arranged chronologically begins with several comic strips drawn in 1980; centers around a long-snouted, half-man, half-dog character, appropriately named the Dogman. Howard stopped drawing the strips after 18 panels, he said, because of difficulty developing a story line and thinking of something new every day.
The Dogman is a semi-autobiographical sympathetic and has been around since 1976, HarperCollins.
"He could be anything from a rat to a wolf." Howard said. It serves as a utility figure to say what needs to be said. The Dogman, who is the last life, fast life, "will always be around." he said.
"My paintings are a world of their own, rather than my own life," he said, but they reflect his feelings or problems he is dealing with.
Burning cigarettes are a predominant theme in most of Howard's paintings. Black smoke spews forth from several cigarettes shown on the cover amid art supplies or in the mouth.
"Of course, I'm interested in them as tubes, but I was being been trying to quit smoking for some time now."
Howard's work has progressed con-
temporarily to two cartoon drawings
displayed in the exhibit.
"One day," I sat down and made 20 drawings like these, he said, indicating four chalk drawings. He revised and simplified these drawings for his oil paintings.
"I consider myself primarily an abstract artist, but I wanted to get away from using just primary colors," he said. "I tried using real wood and I made a lot of changes in my paintings."
He wanted to simplify his paintings in terms of space, light and composition.
"I have an innate confidence about my work and will always paint," he said. He has had offers to sell his work, but wants to keep his own paintings as he has amassed to show as examples of his work.
Howard said that it was important for artists to develop their own styles.
"The main thing is to keep yourself in mind.
There are millions of artists out there, and you
need to be an artist."
"Remember, you're dealing with yourself and you should interpret your own style. If you try to do like anybody else, it won't work."
THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN will sponsor a Feminist Retreat beginning today. For more information call 864-3954.
THE BIOLOGY CLUB will meet at 4 p.m. in the Sunflower Room of the Kansas Union.
on campus
TODAY
TOMORROW
THE KU CHESSE AND BACKGAMMON CLUB
will meet at 10 a.m. in Alcove D of the Union.
THE AFRIKAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
part at 9 p. atm. 1012
Immer路 Road Apt. D-7
SUNDAY
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP will begin at noon in the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center.
A CALLAHL BAKE-I, sponsored by Hillel and the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, will begin at 1 p.m. in the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland.
THE SUNDAY EVENING SUPPER AND DISCUSSION PERIOD will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center. Prayer follows at 7 p.m. and square dance at 8 p.m.
THE KU CIRCLE K CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in room 641 Malot Hall.
MONDAY
THE KU BRIDGE CLUB will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
The University Daily Kansan invites announcements of events that are on campus or sponsored by campus organizations. Submit contributions to the Kansan newsletter, 111 Flint Hall.
JOHN EISELE/Kansan Stall
Allen MacFarlane
Guarneri quartet to perform Sundav
Formed in 1965 at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, the group is named for an eighteenth-century violin maker. The name was suggested by Boris Kryst, a Budapest, Hungary, violinist who once played in a European quartet also named for Guarneri.
The Guarneri String Quartet will perform at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in University Theatre in Murphy Hall as part of the KU Chamber Music Series.
The American strings group includes John Dearborn, Arnold Steinback, Michael Tree and David Landers.
Howard Boyajian, professor of music performance, knows the four musicians.
"They're just stars in their own rights on their own instruments," he said. "It's a truly a merging of four virtuos performers into a very well-knit group."
He said the group was one of the foremost string quartets in the world.
"At that level, though, it's kind of like comparing ice cream cake to coffee ice cream," he added. "Different listeners prefer different groups."
The quartet will perform three pieces; Mozart's Quartet in E flat major, K. 160; Ravel's Quartet in F major; and Beethoven's Quartet in C major, Opus 59, No. 3.
Keith Branson and Jeff Jordan will perform a student composition recital at 8 tonight in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. No admission charge.
Music
Arts Calendar.
The Glory Boys, a soul band, will perform at 9 tonight in the Lawrence Opera House, 642 Massachusetts St. Admission is $2 for members and $2.50 general admission.
The Guarneri String Quartet will hold master classes at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Room 328 Murphy Hall. No admission charge.
Muddy Waters, a blues band, and The Glory Boys, a soul band, will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday in The Lawrence Opera House. The price is $7.50 advance sale and $8.50 at the door.
The Chamber Music Series will present the Guarrier Nine String Quartet at 3:30 p.m. in the University Theatre in Murphy Hall. Admission is $50 for students and $4.50 for senior citizens.
Theatre
"Tales from Hans Christian Andersen,"
will be presented by the KU Theatre for Young People at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in the University Theatre. Admission is $1.50.
“Holiday,” by Philip Barry, presented by the Inge Theatre Series, will open Tuesday night. The play begins at 8 p.m. in the William Inge Theatre in Murphy Hall. Admission is $3 for junior citizens. $2 for senior citizens. There will also be performances on Sent. 30 and October 14.
Art
The Kansas Designer Craftsmen Annual Exhibition will be on display from Sept. 26 through Oct. 25 in the Kansas Union Gallery. No admission charade.
Miscellaneous
Paintings by Robert Zerwek and glasswork by Gordon Eder will be on display from Sept. 26 through Oct. 21 in The Gallery, 745 New Hammersville St. No admission charge.
A display of caricatures by Marius de Zayas will be on display from Sept. 27 through Nov. 8 in the White Gallery of the Helen Museum of Art. No admission charge.
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