Exploring Ancient Percussive Sounds

Paul Jutras, founder of CHOPS, drumming is my passion, and teaching is from my heart.

On a recent family trip to our West Coast, I found myself completely captivated by the waves and the thunderous noise they made smashing against rock. Wielding a commanding concussive vibration, it encompassed all acoustic space around me. At the moment of impact, nothing else could be heard.

Being a drummer, this inevitably thrust my mind into speculation. What was the first percussive sound ever made? Were drums the first instrument conceived and fashioned by the hand of man? Did nature play the major role in its conception ? Well obviously, right? Idiophones, meaning “ own voice “ were the first concussive/percussive instruments, and possibly the first ever musical instruments, along side the bone flute. Strike two rocks or sticks together, you have a concussive idiophone, very prehistoric.

A percussive idiophone is hit by a striker, a stick or hand, causing the instrument, such as a wood block or rock gong, to vibrate.

Around 35,000 years ago, some very interesting idiophones were being used. Animal jawbones were possibly the first rattles. Cleaned then dried to make the teeth loose, they made a buzzing sound when shaken.

Some 17,000 years ago in a cavern in southwestern France, an artist painted our first known picture of Rock I Funk I Blues I Reggae I Latin I Metal Paul Jutras

35+ years experience- Private / One 2 One / Customized / Fun Beginner to advanced - In your home or in my studio in Duncan

a musician. People seeking shelter during winter, might have found these caves were incredible resonating chambers. Stalactites when struck send a resounding “boooong” echo, these were possibly the first percussive idiophones. You can still hear them played by musicians, at Luray caves in Virginia.

So let’s get to the drums. Otherwise known as a membranophone, instruments with a stretched membrane (snake, cow and goat hide etc.) that vibrate when struck and produce sound. 10,000 years ago the first evidence of drums with animal skin heads emerged.

But hold on... Mother Nature plays the first role here. Our eardrums are a timpanic membrane, and transmit sounds that vibrate it. It’s likely early people would not have known this when building the first drums. Our ancestors genius, imagination and intuition, unknowingly recreated something we already naturally possessed.

Early man experienced a cultural explosion when our tools became more advanced. Our communities grew larger and more complex with emerging sensibilities, and a highly developed sense of sacred. We began a dialogue with the spirit world through ritual. Noise and rhythms were created from the sounds found in the materials we had at hand, including the body itself. In a way we’re creating what Mother Nature has already provided us, a voice of our own.

For those interested in exploring your own ancient rhythms Chops Drumschool is now taking registration for the Fall 2020 season.

All lessons are one on one with physical distancing and safety measures in place.

A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community

Surrounded by painting and other studio-based arts her whole life, Stéphanie Prest is an actively engaged artist from Montreal, now living in Victoria. Holding a BFA from Concordia University, she served as a member of the Painting and Drawing Students’ Association and acted as the Association’s Vice President during her senior year.

Her varied endeavors include working with fashion and accessory designers Viola Blanca and Cheryl Fudge, mehndi (henna tattoos), flower arranging and photography. She is also greatly inspired by traveling and her trips to places such as Nantucket, France, Brazil and the West Coast.

Miacomet West, by Stéphanie Prest Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40” $1800

Long inspired by vivid colours and the study of colour theory, Prest’s work has evolved as an exploration of colour, pattern and representation of physical forms.

Stylistically influenced by artists such as Guido Molinari, Gustav Klimt and David Hockney, her love of nature and experience working with flowers can be seen in many of her painting series. Most recently, she explores landscapes and seascapes. Through photography and the subsequent painting, she attempts to capture the serenity and tranquility that occurs in nature. www.imprest.ca

Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St., Downtown Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca

Victoria artist Lisa Riehl finds no shortage of inspiration for her West Coast themed landscapes. Painted primarily in acrylic and oil, Lisa’s vibrant, light-filled art reflects her love of the beautiful scenes that surround her. She is always out with her camera and sketch book, gathering references at the Vancouver Island beaches, in the forest or the mountains, to later transform them into brightly coloured landscapes that convey the feeling of nothing between the nature and the viewer. A self-directed artist who found her artistic voice, Lisa Riehl has been creating on strong foundations and influences attained through numerous workshops she participated in, lead by notable artists such as Brent Lynch, Mike Svob, Janice Robertson, David Langevin, Stephen Quiller, Mark Haine and Brian Buckrell, to name just a few.

Best known for her representational landscapes painted in the style uniquely her own, Lisa Riehl has gained a strong following and a broad collector base. As a Signature Status (AFCA) member with the Federation of Canadian Artists since 2011, Lisa is often invited to act as a jury member for the select art exhibitions. Herself a successful entrant into numerous juried FCA Shows in Vancouver and Victoria, as well as Sooke Fine Arts Show, Lisa Riehl has been an active, steady and inspirational presence on the regional art scene.

Aquamaris Art Gallery Upstairs in the historic Duncan Garage Building (Level entry from the back) Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street September Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4:00pm CLOSED Sunday & Monday (250) 597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com

Image; Distancing, by Lisa Riehl Oil on Canvas, 24” x 12”, $800

Boat lovers of all ages and people who enjoy the scenery of BC’s coast will delight in this charming gift book, a worthy addition to books about BC’s art history.

In the course of his career, one of BC’s most beloved painters, E. J. Hughes (1913–2007), depicted paddle wheelers, steamships, fishing boats, and car ferries. Now The E. J. Hughes Book of Boats brings many of his coastal paintings of boats together in one handsome volume—a book for art lovers and boating enthusiasts alike.

Robert Amos is the official biographer of E. J. Hughes, and works with the participation of the Estate of E. J. Hughes. The Book of Boats follows the success of his two geographically-based volumes, E. J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island (2018) and E. J. Hughes Paints British Columbia (2019).

Featuring a display of images portrayed in Robert Amos’s new book “EJ Hughes Paints Boats” Open Wednesday -Saturday 11-3pm, Closed Sunday to Tuesday

Visit us throughout the month to see the changing displays and new arrivals by our gallery artists September Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

This new compendium features never-before-seen sketches and photographs accompanying fullpage illustrations of some of the artist’s finest works.

Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 24 Station St. Downtown Duncan, 250-746-7112 www.excellentframeworks.ca www.ejhughes.ca