Anthropomorphing Instruments

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:07 am

None of my instruments are named but all of my hats are.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:13 am

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 7:21 am

Joseph E. Smith wrote:My fiddle is the only instrument I own which I have named... and her name is Gwenn.

Wow. I had a car I named Gwendolyn. I wanted to name one of my daughters Gwendolyn but my first wife didn't like it so the car got it instead.

Mike Henry · Post by **Mike Henry** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 7:47 am

i 2nd Redwolf's post.

at times it seems that in order to be a complete person, i need to express myself through music: the instrument enables this expression. i think it's more than a tool - more than an extension of the hands.

although i haven't given my fiddle a name, i've been known to tell people it's like a brother.

haven't seriously considered naming my pipes.

On the fiddle (but not the pipes, yet) i'm more able to let go and create meaningful sound. haven't reached this stage on the pipes - still very much learning basics - this may be the reason for seeming "closer" to the fiddle.

djm · Post by **djm** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:03 am

I am visually oriented, and find no value in naming things. Even my cat has no name. I know what things look like and sound like. A human name adds no value to these for me.

djm

Paul Reid · Post by **Paul Reid** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:26 am

My uilleann practice set is named Saoirse - roughly pronounced sayr-sha. Just sounds like my bellows breathing.

BTW, the harp in Mike's avatar was named Arwyn. Nice avatar Mike

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:52 pm

jbarter wrote:None of my instruments are named but all of my hats are.

But you don't own a ushanka yet? I have a name for my Ushanka. It's called, "Where did I put my friggin furry hat?"

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:55 am

Chiffed wrote:OK, I'll bite.

My silver baritone saxophone (ybs 62s) is named Barry. After my father.

OMG! I'm so jealous!
I've always wanted a bari sax, but I'll probably never be able to afford one.

Please post a picture so I can drool into a pool of my own pathetic tears of self pity ....

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:57 am

My first guitar which I bought (OK, my mom bought it for me) in 9th grade, I named Doreen. To this day, my wife still recalls that Doreen was (and is?) her only competition for my affection.

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:27 am

I haven't felt inclined to name any of my instruments, but I always have named my car. My theory is that if you are on a personal relationship with your car and say a few kind words of appreciation now and then, it will cooperate with you in unexpected ways. This past summer I drove my old Buick on a two thousand mile trip. Shortly after I returned, I was driving to the bank (about a half mile from my house) when I heard an engine noise. Immediately, after hearing the noise, I had no power steering, and I could barely turn the steering wheel. Luckily (or was it luck?) I was in the bank parking lot and was able to park immediately in front of a pay phone. Looking out my rear view mirrow, I could see the broken parts of my car scattered in the parking lot. I quickly called the tow truck and my favorite garage, and they worked me in later that afternoon. In my long monologues with my car (her name is secret) I have requested that breakdowns occur in opportune places, not on some lonely stretch of the highway in the middle of the night.

amar · Post by **amar** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:17 am

Doug_Tipple wrote:I haven't felt inclined to name any of my instruments, but I always have named my car. My theory is that if you are on a personal relationship with your car and say a few kind words of appreciation now and then, it will cooperate with you in unexpected ways. This past summer I drove my old Buick on a two thousand mile trip. Shortly after I returned, I was driving to the bank (about a half mile from my house) when I heard an engine noise. Immediately, after hearing the noise, I had no power steering, and I could barely turn the steering wheel. Luckily (or was it luck?) I was in the bank parking lot and was able to park immediately in front of a pay phone. Looking out my rear view mirrow, I could see the broken parts of my car scattered in the parking lot. I quickly called the tow truck and my favorite garage, and they worked me in later that afternoon. In my long monologues with my car (her name is secret) I have requested that breakdowns occur in opportune places, not on some lonely stretch of the highway in the middle of the night.

emmm....ok.....

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:04 pm

I've never managed to name any inanimate object, though I've been tempted to try by the example of B.B. King's Lucille, and by a sci-fi character who named his dagger Lady Macbeth.

Still, my house is full of nameless musical instruments and daggers. I don't seem to see any human or animal characteristics (including sexual identity) in them. I'm sure it's just due to a lack of imagination.

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:07 pm

I don't have special names for my instruments either. I feel them as extensions of me - part of me. Like I don't have a name for my mouth, arms or penis for that matter.

amar · Post by **amar** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:12 pm

johnson?

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:46 pm

talasiga wrote:I don't have special names for my instruments either. I feel them as extensions of me - part of me. Like I don't have a name for my mouth, arms or penis for that matter.

On the other hand, there is a time honoured tradition of istramorphising parts of our bodies. (now, if only i could find a transcript of Roy and HG's sketch concerning the bedflute, fishing tackle and a cieling fan ...)