The Gravikord® Home Page
Bob Grawi, his instrument, the Gravikord®, and the musical performances of his group "The Gravikord Duo" are creating a new high energy harp tradition in America today.
Bob Grawi on his lyrical new instrument the Gravikord and Pip Klein on the classical silver flute and percussion are "The Gravikord Duo," with other guest musicians, they become "The Gravikord Ensemble." The Duo and Ensemble have performed their unique "New Folk Chamber Jazz" in many venues world wide and are always joyously received. On their recorded music, Bob's virtuoso Gravikord style, coupled with Pip's tropical bird-like flute, and Dave's low down fluid bassoon, are intoxicatingly upbeat and joyful with a rhythm that refuses to be pinned down in any way.
"A show stopper"- The New York Times"A harp for active persons!"- Garrison Keillor
"Bob plucked shimmering, syncopated arpeggios while Pip shook maracas and played sunny, symmetrical melodies on flute." - Jon Pareles, The New York Times.
"Sounds as sweet as several harps played in harmony..." - Smithsonian Magazine.
"Whenever Bob Grawi begins playing, people are immediately transfixed by the clear modal melodies and counterpoint that he weaves."- Guitar Player Magazine
"Grawi's flowing, syncopated picking style is reminiscent of Kottke/Hedges finger style." - Dirty Linen Magazine
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PERFORMANCES AND BOOKINGS
SONGS, VIDEOS, REPERTOIRE
THE GRAVIKORD: The "Gravikord Signature Series TM" is the current artist quality model of our electric double harp, with 24 nylon strings, inspired by the West African kora and Bob's love of polyrhythms in music. First built as an acoustic model out of bamboo, the "Gravikord"TM evolved over a decade into a contemporary electric harp of stainless steel and modern materials. Enriched by the sympathetic vibrations of the unplayed strings, the "Gravikord" TM has a unique captivating rich harp-like sound, making its music appeal to audiences everywhere. The "Gravikord" TM is featured in "Gravikords Whirlies & Pyrophones," a full color book-CD from Ellipsis Arts, and in the Metropolitan Museum of Art show "Enduring Rhythms" in New York CityTHE GRAVI-KORA: The "Gravi-kora TM" is a 21 string instrument made to emulate the playing experience of the traditional West African kora. The "Gravi-kora TM" is a new instrument we have developed from the requests and input of several kora players. It is for all acomplished players of African griot music, and players already dedicated to the kora who desire a more modern electric instrument.
THE WHALE BONE BASS
is an elegant refinement of the funky washtub bass type instruments. It is also musically an extremely flexible and beautifully sounding instrument. The neck is pre-bent with a bonded ebonized wooden head and foot. It can be readily played by right or left handed players without any special adjustments. Because it has only one untuned string it has the amazing and rare quality that it can be played in an any key immediately and with equal ease, great for jamming with anybody. It is a highly intuitive instrument, there is almost no learning curve. It has a wonderfully open naturally feeling technique, and you will soon find that all you have to do to play well is to listen well.
We are only selling a kit to turn your own 22" bass drum into a Whale Bone Bass.
"Adventure Land" is a 2020 collection of Bob Grawi's latest poems in blank verse. It functions both as a memoir and a compilation of the many insights experienced during his life while engaged in other things… Subjects range from the mystic to the mundane. Many poems feature sailing in the northeast, music, and the army too. Learn what a "Gravikord gunkholing busker" is! They cover the full spectrum of the experiences in the life of an artist. These include the indelible experiences of childhood, insights into the nature of things, and portraits in verse of remarkable people he has known. The flavor of the whole collection is multifaceted and varied and is a refreshing immersion in an uncommon sensibility. This book is his third collection of poetry, preceded by “Portal” that also includes some of his graphic art, and "How to Cut an Orange." This book is a continuation and a stylistic extension of "How to Cut an Orange." He has also authored a non-fiction book of spiritual philosophy, "Lao-Tzu's Shoe." Bob Grawi is a Renaissance man, but unfortunately the Renaissance ended several centuries ago. Still, he is a present-day artist, inventor, poet, luthier, and musician. One of his musical instrument creations, a variable pitch Gravikord, has the honor of being permanently on display in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His poetry has been published in the magazine "Chronogram."
"How to cut an Orange" is a 2019 collection of Bob Grawi's latest poems in blank verse. It functions both as a memoir and a compilation of the many insights experienced during his life while engaged in other things... Subjects range from the mystic to the mundane. They cover the full spectrum of the experiences in the life of an artist. These include the indelible experiences of childhood, US Army experiences, insights into the nature of things, and portraits in verse of remarkable people he has known. He and his wife Pip are also well-known musicians. Scenes from the couple's dynamic life include many sailing adventures, and being world traveling buskers.The flavor of the whole collection is multifaceted and varied and is a refreshing immersion in an uncommon sensibility. This book is his second collection of poetry, preceded by "Portal" that also includes some of his graphic art. He has also authored a non-fiction book of spiritual philosophy, "Lao-Tzu's Shoe."
Bob Grawi is a Renaissance man, but unfortunately the Renaissance ended several centuries ago. Still, he is a present-day artist, inventor, poet, luthier, and musician. One of his musical instrument creations, a variable pitch Gravikord, has the honor of being permanently on display in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His poetry has been published in the magazine "Chronogram."
"Lao-Tzu's Shoe" follows a series of lively discussions between a spiritual father and his atheistic son, deeply examining the big timeless issues in life we all struggle with. Direct questions flow from the teenager's many areas of simmering modern existential angst. The father is mainly trying to convince his teenage son about the internal realities of the spirit that we all form within ourselves, regardless of the existence of God or not; and he tries to show his son how to live a fuller and richer life than one just centered on scientific materialism. In the process he describes many of the seminal experiences in his own life.
The focus of this book is broad and deep, and the author is a also name dropper. Some of these names are Socrates, Lao-Tzu, Mozart, Archimedes, Jesus, Einstein, Abraham, Giordano Bruno, Thomas Cole, Rudyard Kipling, Spencer Tracy, August Kekul, Shiva, Huang Po, King C. Gillette, Copernicus, Gautama Buddha, Elias Howe, Darwin, Alexander Fleming, Hakuin Ekaku, Buckminster Fuller, and others are all artfully woven into the fabric of this work.
As a sea change is happening to people's beliefs, many are disillusioned by the dogma of established religions. They are hungry for positively focused well-reasoned discussions of the big questions in life and are searching for clear new ideas about how to live a spiritual life without resorting to the miraculous and supernatural, or the dry psychological approach. "Lao-Tzu's Shoe" is offered as a useful guidebook for this essential inner journey. The text is highly illustrated, with many helpful educational images reflecting the books content. It also contains selected lithographs, pen and inks, and drawings of original fine artworks by the author.
"Portal" is a book of poems and artwork by Bob Grawi. The collection is equally visual and literal. There is much enjoyment here for both sides of your brain - a course of fully balanced mental nutrition! The poems are generally in mixed form, not pure blank verse nor pure rhyming verse either, but they straddle these two categories, freely moving back and forth creating unexpected tension and beauty. A strong overall sense of rhythm is paramount and maintained throughout the work and it is also presented in a similarly fluid style. The voice of some of the poems is very formal, while others are steeped in the colloquial. The subjects of the poems range from the mystic to the mundane. Existential concerns, jazz music, artistic working experiences, a tribute to Albrecht Durer, and to everyday events; from seeing God, to persimmons, to portraits of friends, and mourning the death of a beloved pet.
The artworks in "Portal" are also very eclectic, and are not direct illustrations of the poems. The relationship between them is left up to the reader's creativity, but be assured, relationship there is! They are mainly drawn from three series of works by the author, a greatly distorted figure series, a series on rice paper paying homage to Japanese sensibilities, and a bubble and mirror structural series. Some of the art is very complex, while others are simple and strangely compelling, sometimes even consisting of only one line!
The flavor of the whole collection is multifaceted and varied and is a refreshing immersion in an uncommon sensibility. Bob Grawi has been called an anachronism. He is a true renaissance man, but unfortunately the renaissance ended several centuries ago. Still, he is a present-day artist, inventor, poet, luthier, and musician. One of his musical instrument creations, a variable pitch Gravikord, has the honor of being permanently displayed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
A NEW BOOKMARK: The "Ben Book Marker"TM is a brand new, kid designed bookmark by fourth grader Ben Grawi, that allows you to pick up a book you were reading and quickly return to the last line you read. Just move the sliding arrow to indicate your exact place on the page. Simply flip the marker over to mark the opposite page. We liked it so much we decided to make it available for everyone! Click on the image to the right to get the whole story.The "Ben Book Marker"
TM comes laminated three on a sheet, with full instructions on how to make and use them. It's a DIY (do it yourself) easy fun craft project too. You'll only need a scissors, and a hole punch to assemble them! Great gifts, for students, friends, and family. You get 3 "Ben Book Markers" TM on a sheet.
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WHITE BEAR ENTERPRISES:
Story of the Gravikord, Quotes, Bios
gravikord@aol.com
White Bear Enterprises
PO Box 106, Florida, NY 10921
ph: 845-216-1293
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WHITE BEAR ENTERPRISES
© 1996 revised 2006 Bob Grawi / White Bear Enterprises, All Rights Reserved
