Talk:Gravikord

Cleanup of advertisement

I've basically reverted the edits by 216.6.168.109 (talk · contribs) because the editing looks like a promotion, and the editor is most likely someone working for the company that makes the instrument. --Ronz (talk) 01:36, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

I've done so again. I'm guessing it's the same person on a dynamic ip, 216.6.129.107 (talk · contribs) this time. --Ronz (talk) 17:56, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

requested references

refs requested at WP:EAR

• http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_v129/ai_4142357/

The "Gravikord" looks like a steel and wire model of a suspension bridge, but in reality it's a new musical instrument. Invented by Robert Grawi of White ...

Not much info here. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/01/9546

Most instruments were culled from the book/CD Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones by Bart Hopkin, ... Accompanied by flute, Robert Grawi plucked a Gravikord, ...

Very brief mention. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20080229905

... Dutar, Duxianqin, Ektara, Electric bass, Electric vprihgt bass, Gayageum, Geomungo, Gottuvakhyam, Gravikord, Guitar, Bass guitar, Acoustic bass guitar, ...

Contains the word "gravikord" with no discussion, unless I'm missing something. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/15/arts/the-beat-s-long-journey-out-of-africa-to-america.html?pagewanted=1

15 Dec 1996 ... The show stoppers include a Gravikord, an electronically amplified stringed instrument that sounds like an earthy harp. ...

Very brief mention. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1990/12/24/1990_12_24_040_TNY_CARDS_000357350

"She also owns a Gravikord; a stringed musical instrument shaped like a fishing rod which was invented by Shih's friend, Bob Grawi. ...

Only a brief mention in the portion of the article accessible without a subscription. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.villagevoice.com/1998-01-13/news/service-withholder/2

... joined by Robert Grawi playing Beethoven and blues on a 21-string gravikord, based on the West African kora. Next week, Ken Butler will play guitars ...

Very brief mention. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

• http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/nyregion/on-the-towns-for-new-beginnings-first-night.html?pagewanted=all

... gospel choir; Grammercy Brass with the Immaculate Conception Choir; Gravikord Trio; Gully Low Jazz Band; Bridget Howell, jazz; Ice Show, figure skating; ...

Contains "Gravikord Trio" with no discussion, unless I'm missing something. --Ronz (talk) 19:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

that should be enough Jezhotwells (talk) 18:56, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

Thanks! --Ronz (talk) 19:45, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

I've added comments about each individual reference above. I don't see anything that meets WP:N. --Ronz (talk) 20:23, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

Response to tags

While trying to address the tag issue of the notability of this article we are presented with a catch-22 conflict. We thought that by showing how many highly respected cultural institutions and publications have independently taken notice of the gravikord in a separate article section called “Published articles” including The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Vanity Fair Magazine, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc. etc. that this would have firmly established the notability of the gravikord as these many respected independent editors have taken note of its existence and importance.

However when presenting references from these articles, like those exerted below, they might seem to be in conflict with the “written like an advertisement” criticism:

In an article by Elvis Costello in Vanity Fair he places the CD “Gravikords, Whirlies and Pryophones” in a list of the finest 500 albums of all time that should be in any audiophile’s collection.

-or-

In an article in Smithsonian by Bruce Watson reviewing a concert in the World Financial Center – “Robert Grawi plucked his Gravikord a stringed instrument that resembles an upper section of the Brooklyn Bridge but sounds as sweet as several harps played in harmony”

-or-

In an article from The New York Times by Rita Reif reviewing the show Enduring Rhythms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art – “ Some of the most innovative instruments in the show come from the 20th century when African rhythms became part of jazz, rock, pop, and Latin American dance music as well as gospel and even classical music. The show stoppers include a Gravikord, an electronically amplified stringed instrument that sounds like an earthy harp. In their shapes and sounds, Mr. Moore said, these instruments also represent a kind of continuity in “the layered rhythms, the mixed timbers, and all that movement which is so African.”

-or-

In the book “Gravikords, Whirlies and Pyrophones by Bart Hopkin – “The design quickly evolved to a more distinctive form. In today’s Gravikord the body is made entirely of welded stainless steel tubing, lightweight but strong. There is no resonator; the tones of the twenty-four strings are amplified by means of a piezo-electric pickup in the bridge…The design is thoroughly ergonomic, made for natural and comfortable playing in a sitting or standing position.”

-or-

In an article in Guitar Player Magazine by Tom Mulhern – Even though the Gravikord has a high tech modern-sculpture look it actually has its roots in the African kora, a double strung harp... polyrhythmic music, plus the sound of the Japanese koto, African kalimba (thumb piano) and the African kora…jazz , dixiland, Balinese gamelan and American folk music.” (This article also includes a technical description of the instrument and a patent drawing)

And other similar examples.

The wikimember Joiesoudaine and I have been working together to try to remedy the tagged criticisms. We decided not to use any of these quoted references in the wikipedia gravikord article to avoid sounding too much like promoting the instrument. We also have removed any positively charged adjectives with neutral alternatives. The comment that it was originally written in a non-neutral manner which in our opinion has now been corrected should not be still used as a reason to still keep the “written as an advertisement” tag criticism. We are at a loss as to how else we can respond. We are interested in anyone else's perspective on these issues. Numuse37 (talk) 18:01, 4 March 2011 (UTC)

Good points.

I've updated the maintenance template to provide better direction forward. I don't think we have the notability and advertising/NPOV problems resolved, but I think it's more important to have better focus to resolve the concerns above.

If someone thinks we have resolved the notability issue, please identify a few references used in the article that you believe meets WP:N criteria as well as what those sources find notable about the Gravikord.

I've made a request at Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music/Noticeboard to see if we can get help from others.

I suggest focusing on taking the references from Gravikord#Published_articles, and using them within the article instead. I suspect the sources there will solve the question of notability and more. --Ronz (talk) 18:32, 4 March 2011 (UTC)

Listen to the Gravikord

To hear and see the Gavikord being played, go to the "Discography" section of this article and click on the 2024 entry "New Modern Strings" to view Blake Leyh's cut "Liquid Modernity" - it's a fine introduction to the unique qualities of this instrument. Numuse37 (talk) 16:03, 12 April 2024 (UTC)