FEATURELOOK
By Amy Dee Stephens
Chazlen’s Unique Instruments about--I was intrigued by their sound and how they were Chazlen Rook finds it extremely satisfying to play a musical originally used.” instrument from her personal collection that audiences have As Chazlen explored music, however, she found herself in never before seen or heard. “Everyone takes it for granted the uncomfortable position of being too reliant on reading that we know all the instruments--so when I bring out my sheet music. “I couldn’t walk into a jam session and play nyckelharpa, with its little wooden pegs and 16 strings, they along. People would say, ‘Oh, you’re paper trained. You’ve got react with such curiosity!” to feel the rhythm and internalize the music.’” So, Chazlen The nyckelharpa is a Swedish folk instrument dating back began her quest to make music, not just play music. She to medieval times. For Chazlen, it is one of her most prized studied abroad in a mountain village in Norway, learning their purchases. “It has opened new worlds for me, as a historical folk music traditions, and now she carries a mouth harp in interest and a way to perform, because instruments are her pocket, often known as a Jew’s harp. “It’s simple, but you storytelling devices.” can take it anywhere for a short burst of Chazlen’s growing collection of Chazlen said. historical instruments also includes In her quest to make music, not entertainment,” A tenor banjo from 1924 is one of a mechanical organette from the mid-1880s, which is like a miniature just play music, Chazlen studied her recent acquisitions. She taught herself to play it during a family road player piano in a box. “Imagine a street abroad in Norway, learning trip, by listening to the banjo recordings performer wearing suspenders with a of an early coal miner. “The banjo is monkey on his shoulder, cranking out a their folk music traditions considered very American. It’s used in melody,” Chazlen said. folk entertainment and vaudeville, but it Chazlen did not come from an actually has African origins and was played by slave workers.” extremely musical family, but when she took middle-school Although Chazlen is still in school, she gives violin lessons orchestra, her love for violin took off. “My grandparents and performs. Last year, Chazlen bonded with other local bought me my first violin, and although they’ve passed away, musicians to form the group Rauland, named after the I’m continually discovering their musical culture through the Norwegian village where she studied. Rauland means ‘red antiques they left behind. My dad occasionally brings me a earth,’ so it has an obvious parallel to Oklahoma. For Chazlen, box of their things, and I learn about the kind of music they it’s an opportunity to share original compositions and play enjoyed, such as Vivaldi, Celtic music or big band music. When the historic instruments from her personal collection. I got into jazz, Dad brought me another box and said, ‘See, “I love playing to small audiences, because there’s nothing they loved jazz too.’” like seeing the wonder in the eyes of people who experience When Chazlen decided to study music at the University of a historic instrument for the first time. I often see tears,” Central Oklahoma, she was thrilled when the school loaned Chazlen said. “It’s a completely genuine emotional response her a student violin from 1867. “I started researching the to hearing a new form of music for the first time.” traditions of instruments. When I came across the nonstandardized instruments--the ones most people don’t know 30
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FEBRUARY 2022
