Musical Musings of a Tiny Rager

8th Annual NYC Musical Saw Festival

A concert & art exhibit revolving around 300 year old art of playing music on a carpenter’s handsaw will take place on Saturday, August 7th, 2010, 2pm.

The art form of making music with a carpenter’s handsaw has been around for 300 years.  For the past 8 years, Astoria, Queens has become a pilgrimage spot for musical saw players from all over the world.  Last year, the festival got into the Guinness Book of Records for the ‘Largest Musical Saw Ensemble’ with 53 players playing together, beating the previous record from Poland (28 saw players).

2010 Musical Saw Festival

This years festival includes world premiers of music written especially for the musical saw to including a piece written for a trio debut.  As well, the Chorus of the Saws – all the musical saw players playing together.

There will also be musical saw solos & ensembles, performing many music styles to include jazz, classical, pop, folk, show-tunes and more.  All to to be performed by musical saw players from all over the world.

Finally, ‘Ameriklectic’ – a 10-piece jazz band featuring the musical saw of Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz, as the lead instrument will be debuted.

The festival is made possible by the Queens Council of the Arts with public funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NY State Council of the Arts.

Where: Hellenic Cultural Center, 27-09 Crescent Street (corner of Newton Avenue), Astoria, NY 11102

Trains: ‘N’ train to 30th Avenue

Admission: $10

Info: Musical Saw Festival