Interview – Casper Huang (黄中弦)
Originally published on The Ocarina Repository by Cambell Baxter, circa July 2013. That site is no longer online; this copy is preserved here from the Internet Archive.
After appearing onto the Western ocarina scene quite recently, Casper has become quite a popular maker! I own one of his 13-hole SC ocarinas and I am very happy with it. Others who have purchased his ocarinas give them glowing reports as well, so it was only natural that I should ask him for an interview! Here we go!
I have edited the answers for clarity, but the bulk of it was very well done 🙂
- Tell us about yourself!
I am a professional ocarina maker and teacher born in 1957. I loved music since I was a kid, but I didn’t get any chance to learn a musical instrument at that time. I started to learn guitar as a student at University, and taught guitar after I retired from workplace. Casper is my English name in university.
- How did you get started playing the Ocarina?
I browsed some information about the ocarina on the net 11 years ago, and I seemed to love this instrument. I bought a strange ocarina with totally different finger holes arrangement and I played and learnt very quickly.
- When did you start making ocarinas?
About 10 years ago, I started making my own ocarinas, and I was also inspired by the master of ocarina in Japan – Sojiro. I made a wish that I should play the ocarinas I made myself, so I eagerly checked out all the information on the internet. I found a website about the ocarina, where one of the sections is DIY. I learnt ocarina making all by myself, and also bought many ocarinas from different makers to find out the difference between the sound, the voicing, the shape etc.
- What advice would you give to new makers, or those thinking about making Ocarinas?
As Sojiro said, “I made about 10,000 ocarinas, but I only chose 20 for myself.” I don’t think we will ever make a so-called “perfect ocarina”; there is always room to improve in many aspects. For the new maker, my advice is keep making, never be satisfied with your work.
- What are some mistakes that new makers make?
- They make a lot, but play too little! We always say “how you sound the ocarina, how to make the ocarina sound.” [I wasn’t quite sure how to clarify this expression, perhaps ‘how you want the ocarina to sound is how you make the ocarina’ – Cambell]
- Making all records of the data you got from your ocarina making, and learn from the mistakes and never repeat mistakes again.
- Never be satisfied with your work of ocarina making.
- Learn from other makers’ mistakes.
- If you had to start again, is there anything you would do differently, knowing what you know now?
Since I am full time ocarina maker and player, if I can make more time for myself, I would make more ocarinas.
- What do you recommend to new makers on a budget?
Most spending on making ocarinas is time; in Chinese saying “Time is equal to money”. Most of the tools for ocarina making are very cheap, except the kiln. For starters they might buy a small one which is about $1,000 or just let a pottery maker fire for them at the beginning, until you feel comfortable to make them, then you might consider buying one.
- What do you think is the future of the Ocarina world?
The Ocarina is well developed in Japan, Europe, Korea and Taiwan, I think, since the diversity of ocarina are many, such as size, hole arrangement, shapes, chambers , sound, etc. I don’t think we will ever stop creating the new style of ocarina in the future, and more countries will have more ocarina players, more formal performances will be held in concert halls, and more outstanding professional performers will emerge from the young generations.
- What have been your most rewarding experiences with the ocarina?
I think for ocarina maker, I will see the satisfaction of my ocarinas from users is the biggest rewarding for me. I have many experiences in Taiwan, I hope I can have more from outside countries.
- Who is your favourite Ocarina maker?
Definitely Sojiro. Although his ocarinas are not for sale now, he is always the mental guider for me.
- What is your favorite Ocarina performance?
Sojiro’s music in CD or live on stage.
- Any additional comments/questions/material/shameless plug
What’s a shameless plug, is it 220V or 110V? o [It’s nice to see our ocarina makers have a sense of humour! – Cambell]
If you would like to see more of Casper’s work, check out his Facebook page: Casper Ocarinas.
With new ocarina makers constantly appearing on the scene and developing and refining their work, what do you, the community members, think we will see in the future?
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
Happy playing everyone!
Cambell
If you wrote this, or were interviewed in it, and would like it changed or removed, please write to theocarinamuseum@gmail.com.