Dean Shostak
Encyclopedia
Dean Shostak is an American crystallophone
-player and violin
ist. He regularly performs his Crystal Concerts which consist of music played on his glass instruments, such as the glass violin, the glass armonica, and the crystal handbells.
in the Music Teacher's Shop. He earned a B.A. in Music from the University of Virginia and learned to play the pocket violin and the hurdy gurdy
. In 1991 he became involved in the revival of the glass armonica. He has performed throughout the United States and his music has been featured in notable programs such as NPR
's All Things Considered
, BBC
's Good Morning Television, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
. He has also written original scores for films for the National Park Service
, City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, and the Norfolk Botanical Garden
. Shostak currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia
with his wife Valerie and their three daughters.
Crystallophone
A crystallophone is a musical instrument that produces sound from glass.One of the best known crystallophones is the glass harmonica, a set of rotating glass bowls which produce eerie, clear tones when rubbed with a wet finger....
-player and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. He regularly performs his Crystal Concerts which consist of music played on his glass instruments, such as the glass violin, the glass armonica, and the crystal handbells.
Personal life
Shostak began performing at age 14 in Colonial WilliamsburgColonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
in the Music Teacher's Shop. He earned a B.A. in Music from the University of Virginia and learned to play the pocket violin and the hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
. In 1991 he became involved in the revival of the glass armonica. He has performed throughout the United States and his music has been featured in notable programs such as NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Good Morning Television, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
. He has also written original scores for films for the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, and the Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden
The Norfolk Botanical Garden is a botanical garden with arboretum located at 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, Virginia.- Hours of operation :April 1st - October 16th*Gate is open from 9am - 7pm*Garden is open from 9am - 7pm...
. Shostak currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
with his wife Valerie and their three daughters.
Instruments
- Glass Armonica: Shostak is one of only eight glass armonica players in the world.
- Glass ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
: Shostak owns one of only two glass violins in the world-the other belongs to Ikuko KawaiIkuko Kawai, born January 19, 1968 in Takamatsu, is a classically trained Japanese violinist and composer.She has performed internationally, including invitational appearances with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and renowned conductor Chung Myung-Whun...
. The violin was created for him by the Hario Corporation. - Cristal BaschetCristal baschetThe Cristal Baschet is a musical instrument that produces sound from oscillating glass cylinders. The Cristal Baschet is also known as the Crystal Organ and the Crystal Baschet, and composed of 54 chromatically-tuned glass rods. The glass rods are rubbed with moistened fingers to produce vibrations...
: Shostak plays one of only two cristal baschets in the United States. - Crystal Handbells: Shostak worked with Malmark Handbell Company in PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, which provided the handles and clapperClapperA clapper may refer to one of the following:*Part of a bell*Clapper bridge*A sound-activated gadget called The Clapper*A character from the video game Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest*Clapboard used in film production...
s for the bells, and also with Thomas Hession, who created the glass bells, to create the first glass English handbellsHandbellA handbell is a bell designed to be rung by hand. To ring a handbell, a ringer grasps the bell by its slightly flexible handle — traditionally made of leather, but often now made of plastic — and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike...
. - Glass Bowed PsalteryPsalteryA psaltery is a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family. The psaltery of Ancient Greece dates from at least 2800 BC, when it was a harp-like instrument...
: Jim Doble created the instrument at Shostak's request. - Grand HarmoniconGlass harpA glass harp is an instrument made of upright wine glasses....
: Shostak acquired this instrument at an auction; it has survived since the 1820s1820sThe 1820s decade ran from January 1, 1820, to December 31, 1829.- East Asia :* February 14, 1820 – Minh Mang starts to rule in Vietnam.* Java War * 1828 Siamese-Lao War: Siam invades and sacks Vientiane....
.