Welcome to
The Sound of Wood
homepage.
The EBONY & IVORY Education Project
A project of Just Forests to mark
21 Years of Development Education (DE), & Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 1989 - 2010
- Music is the Universal Language -
In 1995 we organised a Sound of Wood Concert in Tullamore.
To mark our 21st anniversary and the United Nation's Year of Biodiversity we are going to organise Sound of Wood concerts again Nationwide & hopefully in a number of other countries during 2010 .
DATE: 1st to 10th October 2010
"If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." Jimi Hendrix
Come on get Involved: You or your school, your pub, your Local Authority or Community Group can do so as a host, a performer or funder/sponsor. Please contact us to register: getinvolved@thesoundofwood.com
Updated: Wednesday 23rd December 2009
NEW site coming early in 2010 as part of our 21st Anniversary celebrations
A LOT OF INK IS GIVEN TO TWEAKING TONES by swapping pickups, mixing and matching pedals, and dialling in the right amp, but enlightened tone freaks understand the core of your guitar sound begins with its most fundamental component: wood.
Different wood types have different resonant properties, and these “tonewoods” –as they are called by guitar makers- are critical.... .
(Guitar Player – February 2008)
Click here... to see larger image
Irish Times article-Saturday 8 March, 2008
Is music endangered?
An estimated 200 different species of trees are used to make musical instruments. Ebonies, rosewoods and mahoganies have been valued for centuries for their resonance and beauty. But now, according Irish non-governmental organisation Just Forests, at least 70 of these species are in serious decline and are threatened with extinction in the wild. “Timber species decline is not just a third world issue,” says Tom Roche of Just Forests. “The fear that the majestic Sitka Spruce of Alaska-the main species for numerous musical instrument soundboards- could be gone in six years has prompted Gibson Guitars, Martin Guitars and Baldwin Pianos to join forces with Greenpeace to act.” To draw attention to these issues, Just Forests is organising a Sound of Wood concert tour for 2008-2009. “We want musical artists to reflect this present-day tragedy in their music and inspire Irish music-lovers into action to address this problem of global importance,” says Roche. More information on 046-9737545, www.thesoundofwood.com. © The Irish Times. Saturday, March 8, 2008.
Article from Just Forests 10th anniversary Publication (1999) about the Luthier School in Manaus, Brazil, where youngsters learn to make beautiful musical instruments from (waste) wood that is FSC-certified.
EBONY & IVORY
Just Forests have chosen the 1982 hit by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as our signature tune for our
Sound of Wood Concerts Programme (Permission pending).
In this lovely song Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder makes a beautiful statement about trust, love, respect, understanding and education that we are more alike than meets the skin. Ebony and Ivory are also used in the making of musical instruments.
An initiative of Just Forests as part of our development education (DE) and education for sustainable development (ESD) programme.
Well-known Irish flute-maker Martin Doyle visited Tanzania recently (December 2009).
Below is the recording of his fascinating journey - The Music Tree.
Gibson guitars raided for using illegally-logged rosewood in their Gibson Guitars [more...]