The Ukulele / Herman Vandecauter (Brussels)
hvandecauter@gmail.com
The enchanting sounds of the Madeirian machete and the rajão paved the way for the ukulele as we know it today. The machete, with a scale length similar to that of the soprano ukulele, possessed a distinct tuning of GCEA, often with the G string re-entrant. Conversely, the tenor ukulele frequently featured a low G string.
Within the realm of Madeiran craftsmanship, Octavianno Joao Nunes reigned supreme as an exceptional luthier. His family had been dedicated to the art of crafting musical instruments for generations, leaving an indelible mark on their creations.
It is widely believed that Manuel Nunes was the pioneer who ventured to tune the machete differently. In 1879, he arrived in Hawaii aboard the German ship Ravenscrag, accompanied by Augusto Dias and Jose de Espirito Santo—two other early ukulele makers. Together, they embarked on a journey that would shape the future of this remarkable instrument.
Queen Liliokulani, captivated by the allure of the ukulele, composed numerous songs featuring its delightful accompaniment. Among her works, "Aloha Oe" stands as a timeless masterpiece.
The ukulele swiftly gained popularity in Hawaii, captivating the hearts of musicians and audiences alike. It didn't take long for its influence to transcend the shores of Hawaii, as the United States and Europe enthusiastically embraced this charming instrument at the turn of the 20th century. Unfortunately, the ukulele experienced a decline around 1935. However, thanks to the power of the internet, this delightful instrument has made a triumphant return, reclaiming its rightful place in the world of music.
New acquisition!
A superb soprano ukulele from Barron River - Allen McFarlen
A soprano built with Australian Blackwood and Tasmanian Huon Pine.
‘Lagarostrobus franklinii’
A unique tree which grows extremely slowly, averaging just 1 millimeter in girth per year. They can grow to be 2,500 years old which means some of them started life BC! It is the world’s second oldest tree.
Shane Heighway made Kasha ukuleles great again!
Kasha is not only a type of bake-neko, or monster cat, large, bipedal felines as large as or larger than a human in Japanese folklore but in the 1970's, scientist Michael Kasha (1920 – 2013) radically overhauled every aspect of guitar design. Since then some did applicate Kasha's ideas on ukuleles as well.
Shane Heighway is based in Finland http://www.heighwayukuleles.fi .
Shane's passion for music, exceptional craftsmanship, and relentless pursuit of technological advancements have resulted in the creation of unparalleled high-quality professional-level ukuleles!
These days, I primarily enjoy playing Shane's tenor Kasha ukulele. However, whenever I need a soprano ukulele with re-entrant G tuning, I turn to my lovely Barron River ukulele, which works wonderfully for playing old music.
Renowned for its delightful tone, the ukulele possesses the enchanting sound reminiscent of a small lute.
My continuous effort is to discover and arrange a multitude of new music pieces that you've never had the pleasure of hearing before. I have crafted numerous arrangements from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, as well as some original compositions.
To carry this passion forward, it is crucial to invest countless hours in achieving the ideal sound. Striving for clarity, richness, and the unique character of each piece will undoubtedly deepen your love for the ukulele.
Solo concert and workshop in Finland 2015
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