It's been a couple of weeks since I was added to a WhatsApp group. I've never been too fond of this initiatives. Some are useful, but those are the kind of ideas that have definite lifespan. It could be something about a subject, an event or other kind of social activity that has a set ending.
The idea of this particular group is to make a kind of digital White Page book for all the luthiers who reside in Venezuela. I think it even takes into consideration Venezuelans living abroad. This makes total sense since usually only musicians know about luthiers and in this country is a kind of knowledge that is usually not available to everyone in the trade.
After filling in the sheet for my info, I got into the group and it's certainly a weird place. I mean how do you expect interaction between people who are always with their hands busy? Some guys post pictures of their work, other share videos and useful information. There was even a failed attempt to make a deep conversation about the measure of Cuatros taking into considerations the proportions of the Guitar. This failed because among so many experienced luthiers, no one was willing to throw a plan into the fray. But I guess a lot of people like to keep their secrets and that.
This last part is normal. No one wants to give secrets away. However, I remember a bit of trivia regarding a luthier called Reinaldo Lopez from Yaracuy State. He died around 2008 or 2009. This happens to be the same guy who built Bri (my mandolin). And since he passed away there hasn't been anyone in this country able to make mandolin with the same sound. I'm not the best musician to show the potential of an instrument like this. But I can give you a recount of what I have heard of this instruments in action (as I have played more than 1 mandolin made by this luthier and heard a lot more). So, you get a lot of harmonics from playing normal notes if you fret the note correctly. And this is the sign of top-class crafting. Add to that the fact that this guy had the ability to shape Spruce (a wood that great for high-pitch tones as it provides clarity to the sound) and give it the balance required to have instruments with mellowed sound. If you have heard mandolins, you must know that putting aside bluegrass instruments, these small things can sound a bit too high in pitch most of the time.
A guy interested in buying Bri a long time ago told me that there were people who acquired the plans of Lopez. They have the mold and the rest of the info, but they haven't been able to replicate these instruments. And that is a shame. It also speaks to the virtue of not spreading knowledge. But I've gotten out of the fact.
Source
So, the issues with the group were coming as soon as I joined. One of the luthiers that was invited, a girl from Chile, left the group because of some stupid political thing and people hammering onto that joke she made for over 2 days. Even when poor girl had already apologized, people kept coming onto that thing. It was a joke. But stupid people can't see past that fact. This led to the implementation of rules. Strict rules to keep the chat from deviating from its course and for political correctness (which I consider a stupid thing on itself).
Has this worked? Well, certainly there has not been more political commentary on the chat. But I doubt there was ever any besides they pretentious explanations of why the joke was a politically sensitive. Also, there are some musicians in the group and only one of them seems to get the group to announce things that aren't related to luthiers. This is another issue. But hey, I can't be making this kind of callings. It's not my job to get people to remember the rules. Even when they were the ones setting them into action.
Some members already left after the joke incident. I was lucky enough to stay and get some profit from it. One of the guys living in Argentina shared some awesome books about the trade which are jewels in the right hands. I guess this comes to show that certain things are good only to some extent. I wonder if this group will outlive its purpose. Or if it has already done it. Only time will tell.
the beautiful thing about this whole thing is how you are able to discuss such simple in a very interesting way, that made me read everything.
I tell myself, people will be people. The good, the ugly, you can change that, you can all change how you feel or react to them or what they say or do.
Stay in the group and just keep picking the little knowledge from time to time, xd.
Well, thanks you.
I will certainly remain there until I grow weary of the affair. I still think chat groups have expiration dates.
true. That moment when they completely lost value and no one cares anymore.
Exactly!
Hahahah @bertrayo , reading your post now and having a lot of fun :D
You are a great story teller, but what happened with our poems? Wishing you a lot of success with that luthier white page thing, and WhatsApp groups, have fun jeje.
Ha, ha, ha. Well, let's see how that goes. I hope no more stupid things arise. About the other thing:
Was poetry ever gone?
Or was it a break?
Once I was told
speaking in verse
tends to get old.
No, no, that was just for that island
That was not adviced
To talk in lines to much..
The poetry is like a wonderland
And it should not be discussed!
Ah, I take heed
of the word of thee.
Let's get poetry
flowing in the keys
making wonderful rhymes
in expression of feel.
Not being the excuse,
But the time zone again
Is making me impossible
To follow the verse game.
Just one more important question!
Did I miss
Your open mic possible publication?
Ah, darn meridians
staking up the chance
of straight chain
or verse reply.
My answer is silly
there's shame in it.
Miss it, you didn't
Things kept me
always in work
that I forgot the deal
and didn't post a thing!
New chance is the new week
53 has opened the scene!
Better get ready and record the song
And show us how Bri brings the sound.