After 3 months of leaf playing I was invited to play at a leaf playing concert.
17 December 2020 we had about 50 people playing and some ministers in Korea supported the concert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oybDr0UTok&feature=youtu.be
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In my research of leaf players there was one name that kept on surfacing, “Uncle Herb Patten” he is a celebrity among leaf players. Herb is one of the few English-speaking leaf players that I found on YouTube and he even wrote his M.A about playing the leaf. He also wrote a book on how to play the gumleaf. In Australia often leaf players play on eucalpptus, which is collectively called “gum” therefore they play on “gumleaf”. Others call it the leaflute, which gives the impression that it might be a lute made of leaves as opposed to a leaf flute. Also, leaf whistling which is perhaps more accurate, I personally prefer “leafophone” much like a saxophone.
I tried to contact Uncle Herb Patten for 2 months until finally he responded and told me to give him a video call. We have a 10 hour time difference, so for me it was a morning call and for him nine in the evening. When He answered he was lying in a hospital bed and looking chipper saying he just came out from an operation. Uncle Herb Patten was born in 1977 and told me he is excited to update all of his technology to keep in touch with other leaf players around the world. A nurse came by and he said hold on miss I am chatting with my mate here. He told me about a leaf playing competition in Australia, which ran from 1977 to 1997. He took part 4 or 5 times and got second place every time. After the competition ended, Herb wrote the book and accompanying CD “How to Play the Gumleaf” (out of print) There is also a short booklet which tells the history of the competition “Australian Gumleaf Playing Championship history 1977-1997 by Margaret J. Harrison. Herb also competed in Australia got Talent and there too got second place. Uncle Herb and others hope to revive the leaf competition and next year will hold the Australian gumleaf festival to which he invited me. Herb told me about his experiences playing the leaf and all the people that have contacted him over the years asking about leaf playing. He traveled to Hongkong and the Edinburgh festival to play the leaf. He offered to send me his book and said he saw some of my videos on Facebook and called me a versatile musician. - It is such an honour to be noticed by your heroes. The leaf playing world has been a very special community which others have called the leaf family. Which is indeed the feeling I had when talking with “Uncle” Herb. |
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September 2021
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