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Jon Silpayamanant - โจนาทาน ศิลปยามานันท์ Cello, Global Cello, Global Music, Non-Western Cello, Sunday Spotlight on the Global Cello

Sunday Spotlight on the Global Cello: Bass Gheychak

The Bass Gheychak (or Gheychak Bass) is an Iranian bowed string instrument that's roughly the same size as the modern violoncello with a similar pitch range. Like other members of the Gheychak string family, the soundbox is open at the top with a skin covered soundboard at the bottom which is where the bridge for … Continue reading Sunday Spotlight on the Global Cello: Bass Gheychak

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Jon Silpayamanant - โจนาทาน ศิลปยามานันท์ American Classical Music History, Arts Education, Cello, children, Cross-Cultural criticism, Culture, Decolonialism, Diversity, Education, Local Culture, Louisville, Music, Music Education, New Albany, Post-Colonialism, Psychology, Racism, String Playing Careers

Made in Thailand: Composed in America

Last week on Monday I was over at mae's1 house helping her clean out her kitchen while we were listening to the late Suthep Wongkamhaeng2 (สุเทพ วงศ์กำแหง), one of mae's favorites. As I was drying dishes, a song came up in the playlist and mae said she used to sing it to me as a … Continue reading Made in Thailand: Composed in America

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Jon Silpayamanant - โจนาทาน ศิลปยามานันท์ Cello, Singing

on singing while playing the cello (part 6: singing in multiple styles)

At one of the last Sulh Ensemble rehearsals before the social distancing we read through some Balkan tunes that I used to play in other groups. I had forgotten how wonderful some of those tunes are, and at the same time had forgotten some of the pronunciation of Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbian. While listening to … Continue reading on singing while playing the cello (part 6: singing in multiple styles)

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Jon Silpayamanant - โจนาทาน ศิลปยามานันท์ Bellydance, Cello, Non-Western Cello, String Playing Careers, World Music

Interview answers for an Arabic Music thesis project by Ribal El Kallab

A couple weeks ago I was approached by Lebanese cellist, Ribal El Kallab, to answer some questions for a thesis project on Arabic music that he is working on. I've been given permission to post his questions and my responses. If you are interested in my general background in music from the Arabic and Middle … Continue reading Interview answers for an Arabic Music thesis project by Ribal El Kallab

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Jon Silpayamanant - โจนาทาน ศิลปยามานันท์ Audiences, Cello, children, Composing, Diversity, Education, Fragmentation, String Playing Careers

When are too many bands a thing?

Six years ago, I wrote a post called the perils of having too many bands... and at the time I thought I was coming to an upper limit, but little did I understand our capacity to reorganize time when pressed. The image above is a collage of many of the groups I've had the pleasure … Continue reading When are too many bands a thing?