[sdiy] Francesco Lupica & The Cosmic Beam

[Matt Simpson]

downtime at work, so I figured i'd regale the list w/a somewhat nifty story.

i've been into synth-diy for a long time (hell, it's what prompted me
to go to gatech & get my compe degree...i wanted and still want to
build crazy sound equipment), and i'm finally getting around to
actually *doing* things.  the past 8 years have seen me immerse myself
in information & networking with talented folks.  much like everyone
here, it's a driving passion.

i've been dating my current girlfriend, missy, for 2 years, and she's
mentioned her uncle before, saying he made a whole lot of new age
music on the west coast for a number of years, including making his
own insturments which were described very vaguely to me.  she hadn't
met him, but she's heard his records for ages.  last year she & I went
up to see her family for her mom's funeral, and these are the folks
that have known him for a really long time, and they kept playing his
record.  interesting new age stuff.

missy's an artist.  primarily visual, but always really into music. 
now that she's making music w/me, she's suddenly extremely interested
in finally talking to her fabled uncle.

she caught up w/him last night.  turns out his instrument, the Cosmic
Beam, isn't what i thought it was:

http://www.virtualvenice.info/music/francisco.htm 
"Inside the tent was a guy playing a very long metal beam, like a
steel I-bar, with a few piano type strings stretched from end to end.
He had it hooked up with an electronic pickup, so it could be
amplified and use echoplex effects. In one hand he held a thick metal
cylinder, like a giant version of the one steel guitar players use.
With the other hand he plucked, stroked, bowed and hammered on the
strings while moving the bar. The harmonics and textural magic from
this instrument, which literally moved through your body, was so
incredible people would stay for hours..........John Beal"

her uncle's name is Francesco Lupica, and has apparantly been heavily
involved in the west coast music scene for several decades now. 
having read his descriptions of his instrument & seen pictures of it,
i'm dying to meet this guy now.

long story short:  It's pretty rad to be dating a girl who's uncle is
heavily into very similar things as I.  double plus bonus, considering
missy's a treasure herself.

hooray!

threv
-- 
~mt
sonic alchemist
eat ! or ! be ! eaten