Dear Mr Ogawa
Thank you for sharing the Ocarina making skill. I want to start making Ocarina although I have never held a real one in my hand. I have found few good sources about how to make an Ocarina and did a whistle test (no finger hole). It was quite funny to make sound out of soft clay for the first time, since in your brain you just think its only soft mud but it makes sound.
I have done some pottery in high school so i know the basic making and drying process. However I do not have a kiln to fire the clay to 1200 degree. I read that you said not all Ocarina fire at high temperature. Is there any other way to fire it?? May be burn in a pile of charcoal (not just for the colour)? Also how long does it have to fire for?? I found out that clay usually warm up at low fire for an hour then an hour of medium and finally high (stone heat to red) for 2 hours. After that its wait to cool down.
I saw som where on the site you said you had a book publish in 1990, was that only published in japanese??
Kind regards
Michael Tue
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When Ocarina which you began it and made gave a sound, you would be wrapped to be pleased.
As for me, I seem to see it.
As an ancient person made an earthenware vessel, you can burn Ocarina.
However, the method has much failure because temperature rises suddenly.
Because a sound is firm when Ocarina burns at 1,200 degrees, I think that lower than 1,000 degrees are good.
You can burn with charcoal, but tend to be damaged.
It is a natural story, but it is the method how it is good to use a specialized kiln most.
There is not carbonization in a purpose to color Ocarina.
Unfortunately a book of my ocarina is only Japanese. I think that this this||these site is enough. But look at a Japanese part.
I wish you make a good work.
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Mr Ogawa Thank you for the encouragement. Since I wrote the last message I have discovered my kiln. I think i might make a minigama like the design of Mr. Akira Yoshida. It should do the job nicely. Although it will be sometime till I work out how to sort out everything, also I don't want to think about the kiln too much instead should spend more time on ocarina making. Since I think even a dried out ocarina can play well right, may be not with the water in the mouth?
May I ask you what kind of clay do you use?? I think chinese uses the red one?
Also I saw on a video, this japanese ocarina maker burn his finished ocarina in hay and wood to gives a texture and he brush this stuff to it, and give the ocarina a reddish tone and yet you can still see the burnt marks, also surface become smoother then just hang dry. Can you tell me what is the thing he brush on to the Ocarina??
Also you said about below 1000 degrees does it has to be above at least about 750 degree as well??
Many Thanks and Good Heath
Kind regards
Michael Tue
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Clay to use influences a sound.
Red clay includes iron content.
A sound seems to be firm.
I do not work on the appearance of Ocarina.
Because because Ocarina is a musical instrument not an art object.
This thing is the thing that is important when I make Ocarina.
Burning temperature affects a sound of Ocarina.
There is your need to devise your burning method to make it a favorite sound.
Burning temperature and quantity of heat storage of a work do not have, appearing.
Therefore it is useless.
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I see so temperature in a personal thing. Its depend of the purpose to choose a temperature.
I understand what you mean by ocarina is an instrument not an object. Since I am a bamboo flute player, I never understand why people make flute not only it isn't playable but also look really bad (although non player can't tell). How ever doesn't the surface treatment affect the touch of the instrument which is important?? Especially the lips area?? Can you achieved enough smoothness just by sanding after fire??
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Dear Mr Ogawa
I think i just get what you mean on the site about sharing half of the process and left half for experiment. If everyone do 100% of what you do that would become a 100% copy of your Ogawa ocarina but no more. If one experiment the other 50% of the process even with thing you and other masters have not thought of, open up the chance for a new and better kind of ocarina to be form and one that bare our own name, nurtured by masters instead of copy from masters.
Is that what you are thinking.
Anyway no more questions for now.
Thank you very much for your help, and nice talking to you.
Michael Tue
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Ha-ha the best method to get good Ocarina is to buy good Ocarina.
You should make it to realize it if there is a sound to image in you. But what question will not have need if a sound makes Ocarina as an appearing art object either.
I think that you have already noticed.
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