Illinois Farmer Makes Music Playing Saw

Illinois farmer makes music playing saw AG WORLD Ag World 13-6-18 People in nursing homes, hospitals and schools around Monmouth, Ill., love it when Hugh Winbigler comes to visit because they know they're going to hear beautiful music that only he can make. That's because Winbigler is a virtuoso of one of the world's most unusual musical instruments - the common hand saw. Winbigler began playing the saw 17 years ago after he attended a church program that featured a saw player. Intrigued, he received 5 min. of instruction from the saw player, then went home to try his skill using a saw he bought at a hardware store. The unusual instrument produces a high-pitched whine that he turns into beautiful melodies recognizable as old favorites such as "Fairest Lord Jesus", "The Old Folks at Home", or other well-known songs. To make music with the saw, Winbigler braces the handle between his knees and holds the end of the blade with his left hand. With his right hand, he draws a cello bow across the flat edge of the blade opposite the teeth. Stroking the blade near the handle produces a lower-pitched sound than stroking near the end of the blade. The longer the saw, the lower-pitched sound it produces. The larger saws have a two-octave range, Winbigler says. He can alter the music's pitch by moving one knee to the middle of the blade or by bending the blade. He jiggles his knees to produce a vibrato tone. Winbigler plays at fairs, pre-schools, hospitals and nursing homes. He usually has tape-recorded piano accompaniment. When his thumb gets tired from bending the blade, he may give it a rest and whistle or play a harmonica. He always asks if there are any other saw players in the audience but he rarely finds one. The only time he's socialized with other saw players was when he attended a national saw-players convention in Portland, Ore., three years ago. He estimates that there are only about 200 saw players in the United States. Although any handsaw can be used, Winbigler has bought two saws with Swedish steel blades specially manufactured for making music. One is 26 in. long and the other 30 in. long. He paid $18 for the 26-in. saw in 1980 (Valley Saw Inc., Charles Blacklock, 1821 St. Charles St., Alameda, Calif. 94501) and bought the 30-in. model from a woman whose husband purchased it five years ago for $49 (Mussehl & Westphal, 130 S. 4th Street, Delavan, Wis. 53115). Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Hugh Winbigler, Rt. 2, Box 96, Monmouth, Ill. 61462 (ph 309 734-6903).

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