- Title: Ukrainian crafts 'green' musical instruments from recycled furniture
- Date: 26th December 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF GUITARS MADE OF FURNITURE ON DISPLAY IN TODCHUK'S WORKSHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN CRAFTSMAN, BOGDAN TODCHUK, SAYING: "The guitar gives a powerful sound. Overdrive is embedded into it, the sound output is very strong. I have nothing to do with it. Maybe it is because of the wood." GUITARS ON DISPLAY IN WORKSHOP TODCHUK POLISHING VIOLIN TODCHUK POLISHING VIOLIN, SAYING OFF CAMERA (Ukrainian): "Here is oak. And this is... What is it? It is maple wood." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN CRAFTSMAN, BOGDAN TODCHUK, SAYING: "First of all, I like music. There is an idea that any object can be a musical instrument. One can make a musical instrument out of anything, it is only a matter of desire. Another idea is that we must use the planet's resources more effectively." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN CRAFTSMAN, BOGDAN TODCHUK, SAYING: "One of the most interesting moments is when after I glue all the elements together, they are rough and patchy, and then I shape them (into an instrument). I look at it and music plays in my head. I look at it and think: 'Oh wow! They were just pieces of wood.' That's a cool moment." TIMELAPSE OF TODCHUK DRAWING SKETCH OF FUTURE GUITAR (MUTE) TODCHUK FINISHING SKETCH (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN CRAFTSMAN, BOGDAN TODCHUK, SAYING: "Now we need old furniture. A lot." WOODEN PIECES PLACED ON PAPER SHAPE OF FUTURE GUITAR VARIOUS OF TODCHUK KICKING PIECES OFF OLD SOFA VARIOUS OF TODCHUK BREAKING SOFA INTO PIECES TODCHUK COLLECTING WOODEN PIECES FROM GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN CRAFTSMAN, BOGDAN TODCHUK, SAYING (COLLECTING PIECES OF WOOD): "(JOURNALIST ASKING OFF CAMERA: "BOGDAN, WHAT DID YOU GET?") Beechwood. It is mostly beechwood, I think. (JOURNALIST: "WHAT FOR?"). I will use it for the fingerboard, for its decoration. There are some cool wooden textures here." TODCHUK CARRYING PIECES OF WOOD AS HE CROSSES STREET VARIOUS OF TODCHUK WORKING WITH WOOD IN HIS WORKSHOP TODCHUK DEMONSTRATING WOODEN PIECE, SAYING (Ukrainian): "FIRE? DOES IT LOOK LIKE FIRE?" CAT IN WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF TODCHUK CUTTING WOOD PILE OF WOODEN PIECES ON GROUND GUITAR ON TABLE KIEV, UKRAINE (RECENT - DECEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) OWNER OF GUITAR MADE BY TODCHUK, OLEH KOSENKO, TUNING GUITAR
- Embargoed: 9th January 2020 07:23
- Keywords: Bogdan Todchuk Ukraine craftsman eco-friendly environment furniture green handmade guitar musical instruments
- Location: KIEV, UKRAINE
- City: KIEV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA002BBM2LO9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ukrainian Bogdan Todchuk has found an eco-friendly way to craft musical instruments - instead of using raw wood, he searches local landfills for old wooden furniture to turn into guitars, violins and other instruments.
Todchuk started on the path of using recycled furniture to make instruments when he found a set of old table legs on the street as he was returning home from work one day.
A look at the back of the first guitar he made reveals a patchwork of table and chair legs and wood from a sofa frame, all painstakingly glued together.
Todchuk said each time he has glued pieces of wood together and has worked on the shape, music starts playing in his head as he sees what was previously just pieces of wood become an instrument.
As well as different pieces of furniture, Todchuk uses a variety of woods including oak, beechwood, maple wood and others.
An IT specialist at a Ukrainian state-run defence company, Todchuk said manufacturers normally use what is called 'hard wood' to produce musical instruments.
He said wood from old furniture is of higher quality and gives a better sound as it dries out naturally, in contrast to raw wood which is normally dried in special ovens.
Musical instruments can be made out of any material, Todchuk added, saying that it was important to "use the planet's resources more effectively".
Todchuk's guitars are more affordable compared to guitars made by famous brands and he said they sound more powerful. The artisan also founded a Facebook page for repairing musical instruments.
Oleh Kosenko, one of Todchuk's clients, says he is able to repair any sort of damage to an instrument, and praised the sound made by a guitar he owns made by Todchuk.
Todchuk said he aims to found a world-wide movement of craftsmen who manufacture recyclable musical instruments.
(Production: Sergiy Karazy, Margaryta Chornokondratenko) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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