Yep, you've read the title right. Music from a Saw. By rubbing a bow along the side of bog-standard carpenters saw the most unusual and amazing sounds can be achieved. And there was no greater proponent of it during the 1920s and 30s than Liverpool based Jack Robinson.
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| Jack Robinson, from the NML collection |
Jack was born in Blackpool in the late 1800s. In the 1920s he moved to Liverpool and set up a barbers shop in Lodge Lane. He had always been musical playing ukulele, banjo and double bass but his expertise was in the Musical Saw.
The saw was popularised in America in the early 1900s. It's not certain when the saw came to Britain but Jack is widely considered to be the first 'professional' saw player in the country. I think we can claim that as another Liverpool first!
Jack's Saw and Bow are now in possession of the National Museums Liverpool. Visit their page for more info.
Jack's Saw and Bow are now in possession of the National Museums Liverpool. Visit their page for more info.
Now, I bet you're wondering what the saw sounds like? Think of a large tuba, ok... well it sounds nothing like that. It actually has a sort of ethereal otherworldly sound - like a modern Theremin.
Sadly no known recordings of Jack Robinson exist although during his time he played alongside great orchestras and in a solo performance on the RMS Duchess of York.
Here is Austin Blackburn (not a scouser) considered to be a modern Musical Saw maestro.
Bonus question: There was a famous Hollywood diva, a mega-star of the silver screen who was herself an accomplished Musical Saw player. Who was she?
Sadly no known recordings of Jack Robinson exist although during his time he played alongside great orchestras and in a solo performance on the RMS Duchess of York.
Here is Austin Blackburn (not a scouser) considered to be a modern Musical Saw maestro.
Bonus question: There was a famous Hollywood diva, a mega-star of the silver screen who was herself an accomplished Musical Saw player. Who was she?
Where as Jack Robinson was the saw player for big bands and variety shows, Marlene Dietrich was indeed an actor on the silver screen as well as a singer. During the war she entertained the troops with both singing and on the saw. Marlene did many visits to the UK and played in several music hall venues. These days its Natalia Paruz (The Saw Lady) who has taken her place in films such as "The Dummy". Myself, The Yorkshire Musical Saw Man have played on BBC documentaries and in the film called "Yorkshire Symphony".
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